Major funding to target knife crime in Hampshire hotspots

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has announced over £611,000 will be spent on tackling knife crime in Portsmouth and Southampton.

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show there were 940 knife offences in Hampshire in 2025 – the lowest level of police-recorded knife offences in the county since 2015.

But the two cities still have a high number of incidents.

PCC Donna Jones said: “Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is one of the best performing forces in the country when it comes to tackling knife crime. While other forces are seeing significant increases in incidents, here they have reduced by 27.3% since 2023. But there’s always more to be done.

“Officers are working tirelessly to reduce this epidemic and we have already seen the difference increasing hotspot patrols has had on reducing crime here.

“This funding will only strengthen that resolve by putting extra officers on the streets, offering reassurance to people living in Portsmouth and Southampton that serious violence will not be tolerated.”

The money has been allocated through the government’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund and will help support Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary to deliver bespoke intervention plans for each city.

The PCC added: “Sadly we’ve seen only too recently, both locally and nationally, the devastation knife crime can cause to communities and I’m committed to working alongside our police force to ensure we can live our lives safely here without fear.

“I have long stated that early intervention is vital and it’s why I continue to invest over a million pounds a year in my Violence Reduction Unit to work alongside partner organisations like Youth Services to identify and disrupt those who may be harming or exploiting vulnerable young people and drawing them into violence and to support those who may have already decided to pick up a knife.”

To find out more about the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit visit – Violence Reduction Unit – Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner