"I will provide the very best in British policing": Donna Jones to recruit more officers despite budget challenges
Additional police officers are set to be recruited across the region as Donna Jones commits more funding amid financial constraints.
Police Commissioner Donna Jones has confirmed she will be funding 36 more police officers to be recruited for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary amidst backdrop of falling police numbers across the UK.
The new recruits will take the force total to 851 more police officers during her tenure as PCC, with the Hampshire Police & Crime Panel voting unanimously in favour of the PCC’s plans at a meeting on February 2 at Hampshire County Council.
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Donna Jones said: “In spite of under inflation increases by the government and hikes in costs for forensics and other vital policing services, I’m maintaining my pledge to recruit more police; we still don’t have enough. The only way to make communities safer and protect people is to prioritise my budget in employing more police.
“I’m still battling against an unacceptable reduction in police officer numbers that occurred before I was the PCC. I will not stop until we have the balance right. I will reduce other spending if need be, in order to grow officer numbers. I won’t settle for anything less.”
Of the new recruits, 16 will be Neighbourhood Police Officers, and five will boost the number of Local Bobbies, taking them to 119, with the rest working in front line policing.
The Commissioner said setting the budget this year has been particularly difficult due to vastly under inflation increases in funding from central government.
By keeping the council tax rise to under 30p per week for the over 61 per cent of residents, an increase in police officer numbers is being delivered.
PCC Donna Jones continued: “It is a real kick in the teeth to find out the government’s grant settlement for the next financial year doesn’t even cover the police pay rise, which was announced by the Home Secretary in September.
“Local people are having to pay for the pay rise through local taxation. The pay rise is always met by the Home Office. This is very disappointing, and quite frankly, not fair.
“Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will receive a grant increase of just 3% whereas other forces such as the Metropolitan Police (4.4%) and Kent (4.7%) will receive more. Without local taxpayers support, the force would lose 250 officers. This is not sustainable.
“That’s why it’s been a difficult budget to balance. I will increase the rate people pay on average by less than 30p per week, but I will also draw on reserves to ensure the Constabulary receives the investment it needs to provide the very best in British policing.”
Over 4,000 people responded to the Commissioner’s consultation on the police precept, and over 92 per cent of respondents supported an increase in council tax precept.
The budget for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary will be £516m, with 41 per cent of that funded by local taxpayers. The increase of £15 a year in Council Tax (based on a Band D property) will provide essential funding to enable Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary to continue to deliver the best service possible to its communities.
“Our performance in recent years gives us confidence that, with the right support, we can continue to improve and deliver. As national funding shifts, local backing becomes increasingly vital.
“Our plans for the year ahead focus on putting more officers on the streets, making smarter use of technology, ensuring our workforce is as productive as possible, and strengthening the care and support we provide to our officers and staff. Preparing the organisation to meet future challenges means investing not only in what we do, but in the people who deliver it.”