Hampshire and Isle of Wight set the standard for Local Policing, backed by Ministerial praise

Policing Minister hails local policing model as a blueprint for the nation at landmark conference.

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been praised by the Policing Minister as leading the way in delivering strong, community-focused policing, during a major policing summit hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.

The Local Policing Conference, held on Wednesday 7 May, brought together officers, partners, and community stakeholders to strengthen the shared mission of making neighbourhood policing more visible, effective, and accountable. The event showcased the clear strategic direction and robust financial investment being driven by the Commissioner, with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary already meeting key aspects of the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

The Minister for Policing, Dame Diana Johnson, joined the event via live link and described Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary as “trail blazers”, highlighting how the force is already setting the standard many others must now follow.

Attendees heard how the Commissioner’s flagship Local Bobby scheme, launched just over a year ago, has already resulted in named, dedicated officers in hundreds of communities. This has helped drive up trust, public contact, and visible presence on the streets, with over 92% of respondents backing the expansion of the scheme.

Officers also gave presentations on their approach to dealing with local policing issues, such as Operation Nautical, a multi-faceted strategy to tackle seasonal anti-social behaviour at Southsea seafront, and a strategy from Fareham’s Neighbourhood Policing Team to tackling unauthorised car meets.

PCC Donna Jones said: “The approach in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been shaped by what communities have said they need; more visible policing, stronger local connections, and faster responses to crime. By putting named officers back into every community and investing in the right tools and teams, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is demonstrating what effective local policing looks like. It’s encouraging to see this model being recognised nationally as a way forward.”

Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: “We are here to provide exceptional local policing to the communities that we serve. We want people to know we are a strong presence where they live and have the confidence that we are there when they need us. That’s why we re-organised the structure of the force two years ago and why we continue to invest in innovative ways in tackling often complex local policing issues. We welcome the Government’s focus on local policing and want to be at the forefront in delivering best practice.”

The conference also spotlighted the Commissioner’s hard-hitting response to rising rural crime, including the launch of the new Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force.

Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya added: “Whether you live in an urban area or in the country, you need to have the confidence to report crime to us and know that we will deal with it. The launch of the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force marks a shift to a more intelligence-led, proactive approach to dealing with crime in rural areas. It will see greater co-ordination between our specialist officers and our Local Bobbies and Neighbourhood Policing Teams to deliver more regular and visible patrols, particularly when responding to calls for service. We recognise that more needs to be done to target rural criminality and we hope to build on this new approach in the coming months.”

With 75% of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s geography classified as rural, and with 50% of public consultation respondents calling for rural crime to be a priority, the Commissioner reaffirmed her commitment to listening to rural voices.

“Rural crime is not opportunistic.” said Donna Jones. “Organised gangs are operating across our countryside. They are stealing GPS units, quad bikes and machinery to order and shipping them abroad. This is serious, cross-border, international criminality and it is hitting our farmers and landowners hard.

“The launch of the Rural Crime Task Force marks a major milestone in the delivery of my Police and Crime Plan. I campaigned for this dedicated team because rural communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight told me, time and again, they felt overlooked and vulnerable to criminal gangs. This Task Force will bring targeted operations, regular patrols, and faster responses to countryside crime to ensure that rural areas are protected with the same determination and resources as towns and cities.”

The conference concluded with an interactive panel session, giving attendees the opportunity to put direct questions to the Commissioner, Acting Chief Constable Sam De Reya, and Assistant Chief Constable Tara McGovern on the future of local policing.

To ensure this progress continues, the Commissioner is calling on residents to take part in a Police Visibility Survey, to monitor public confidence and hold the Constabulary to account for being accessible, visible, and responsive across both urban and rural communities.

Take the survey here:  https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90819387/Trust-and-Confidence-HIOW-OPCC-May-2025