This in from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire. In their words – Ed.
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes has appointed an Assistant Commissioner to represent him on the Isle of Wight.
32 year old Laura Franklin from Ryde was appointed from a short-list of four candidates interviewed for the post from a total of 15 applicants.
Principal role
Representing Simon Hayes on the Isle of Wight, Miss Franklin’s principal role will be to ensure the policing needs of the island community incorporated within the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan are delivered. This will be achieved through building strong relationships with community groups, public bodies and other relevant island based organisations of which Miss Franklin, who has lived on the island for 25 years, has extensive local knowledge.
Miss Franklin has a degree in Criminology and Forensic Studies from the University of Portsmouth where she is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Psychology. Miss Franklin brings with her considerable knowledge and experience of the criminal justice system having worked for the Ministry of Justice at HMP Isle of Wight.
Laura Franklin: “Delighted”
Talking about her appointment, Miss Franklin, a former Special Constable and Sure Start volunteer on the island said:
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to represent the Police and Crime Commissioner on the Isle of Wight and look forward to meeting with members of the public and local community groups to gather their views.
I aim to provide a voice for island residents, to liaise with the Commissioner, and explore the most effective way these ideas can be incorporated into the Police and Crime Plan. I will therefore be inviting opinions on local police and criminal justice matters, seeking ideas for improvement and development.
“I will be travelling island wide to engage with the community, and looking to build strong relations with a variety of groups. I intend to connect with all the island’s generations, and listen to the different concerns presented. By working closely with partner organisations I am confident that the best interests of the local communities can be delivered.
“We are fortunate to have a diverse and extensive network of organisations on the island that offer many possibilities for collaboration. From this I hope to establish initiatives that benefit islanders and support the main aims of the Police and Crime Plan.
“Driven by public consultation and guidance from the Commissioner, I envisage initiatives that support plan aims that place victims and witnesses at the heart of the criminal justice system, improve frontline policing, and reduce reoffending and anti-social behaviour.
I am passionate about keeping our community safe and looking forward to working closely with island residents and the Commissioner. Above all I wish to provide a service that enables people to live without fear of crime on the Isle of Wight, and promote community safety.”
Simon Hayes: Laura, “My voice on the island”
Simon Hayes added: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Laura who will be my voice on the island and who will help to deliver the priorities set out within my Police and Crime Plan. Laura will be actively engaging on my behalf with island communities and will provide me with an in-depth understanding of the community safety issues affecting its residents.
The Commissioner concluded: “I was impressed with the exceptionally high caliber of candidates who applied for the post and would like to thank them all for their interest.”
