Residents on the Isle of Wight are set to benefit from an enhanced roads policing service thanks to the re-introduction of a dedicated team. This follows a review by the Constabulary with the support of Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones.
The Commissioner has committed to an additional 600 police officers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by 2023. As part of the officer uplift commitment for the next financial year, additional roads policing posts are being created across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This gives the force the capacity and flexibility to invest in this specialist area of policing on the Island.
As part of austerity measures introduced in 2016, specialist armed response vehicle (ARV) officers posted to the Isle of Wight also carry-out specific roads policing duties. They work alongside Response Policing officers to support the force’s commitment to road safety, and are supported by officers based on the mainland when necessary.
Under the new proposals an additional unit of two dedicated roads policing officers will be established on the Island that will complement the ARV and Response Policing capability.
Jones: Thanks to ACC Tim Metcalfe for listening to the community
Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, said,
“I am grateful to the members of the community and elected representatives who have contacted me about the issue of road safety on the Isle of Wight. I was elected to be a voice for residents and will always listen and work to find the best solution when community concerns are raised with me.
“I am delighted that my commitment to recruit additional officers has meant that the resources are available to enable the Constabulary to reintroduce a dedicated Roads Policing Team on the Island and improve safety for all road users. I would like to thank ACC Tim Metcalfe for listening to the community and working with me to achieve a positive outcome.”
Metcalfe: Officer uplift allows investment in dedicated RPU
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, Head of Joint Operations for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police said,
“We are committed to ensuring our roads are safe for motorists on the Isle of Wight, and this has been led by the efforts of the dual-skilled ARV officers who also carry out roads policing duties.
“For some time we have been actively considering options to develop and enhance this capability. I am pleased to say that the current officer uplift, and the commitment from our Police and Crime Commissioner, now gives us the ability to invest in, and re-introduce a team of dedicated roads policing officers on the Island.
“As a police service, it’s important for us to constantly review our operating models in line with demand information, and listen to our communities and partners.
“I have every confidence that this additional resourcing for the Isle of Wight will help to keep road users safe and improve the service we provide to our communities on the Island.”
Seely: An uplift of five officers
Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, added,
“I welcome the news that the Police and Crime Commissioner will reintroduce a dedicated Roads Policing Team on the Island and I am pleased that it has been made possible through the police officer uplift programme.
“We will now have a joint unit that will have a dedicated roads policing focus.
“Donna has agreed to recruit two dedicated roads policing officers and also three armed response/roads policing officers. An uplift of five officers to the nine already in post in the unit will make a significant difference to roads policing on the Island.
“I have also been assured that this is just the start and that the numbers will be reviewed at a later date to see if we need more.
“I’m really happy that we will soon have five additional officers, two of them wholly dedicated to roads policing. We have the most dangerous roads in Britain outside of London.
“Road traffic incidents can have long-lasting and devastating consequences for families. These additional officers will focus on making our roads safer.
“I am grateful to Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones for listening to the concerns of Island residents and allocating more resource to the Island to tackle these issues.”
Article edit
12.45pm 19th Feb 2022 – BS comment added
News shared by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, in their own words. Ed
