While some pupils are back at school from this week, learning at home remains for many. The Police and Crime Commissioner’s Cyber Ambassador Scheme is offering access to online safety activities to all schools, not just scheme members, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, has successfully secured the opportunity to bid for additional funding from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to specifically support organisations that work locally with victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

In these extraordinary times Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner sets out his new plan to enable swift and immediate action to keep communities safer now and into the future.

The public is advised to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as shops, trains and buses to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“As the Prime Minister confirmed last night, “this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week”.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane is setting aside £500,000 to sustain local provision of services to protect victims, support those vulnerable to crime, and work with offenders to reduce demand on hard pressed service providers. This funding will address issues that are emerging as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane has responded to communities in need during the pandemic by setting up a COVID-19 Keeping Communities Safer Fund. To date the Commissioner has awarded 36 grants totalling over £12,300.

The Victim Care Service, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and provided by Victim Support, has launched a new website to ensure anyone affected by crime in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton can access support and advice.

Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner is inviting residents to submit their own questions for him to put to the Chief Constable on their behalf as part of his regular scrutiny and support meetings.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, has set up a £25k fund to provide existing voluntary groups, informal community groups established in direct response to COVID-19, Parish and Town councils and schools grants of up to £500 to help people stay safe.

“Keeping people safe is everyone’s top priority, but we recognise that for some staying home is not as safe as it is for others.  Sadly, there are examples in our communities, which we should all be alert to notice”, said Michael Lane Police and Crime Commissioner.

PCC responds to additional powers for policing with call for all to take personal responsibility for doing the necessary and right things to save lives and reduce risk.

Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane has re-iterated his commitment to continue to support the delivery of essential services to victims of crime and vulnerable members of our communities during the COVID-19 crisis.

As part of the regular scrutiny and support of the Chief Constable, Michael Lane is asking the public to submit their questions concerning how COVID-19 is impacting on policing and the plans that are in place to continue to keep you safer.

“We are currently facing unprecedented and dynamically changing times. The Government announced last week that the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections that were due to take place this May will now move to May 2021.

The Police and Crime Commissioner and his team have worked to identify community-based projects that will help address his priorities and work locally to protect vulnerable people, support victims of crime, and prevent offending.

Therapeutic support for victims of sexual crime in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton is to be improved through new arrangements being put in place by the Police and Crime Commissioner following a successful bid for funding from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

As part of Justice Week 2020, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner ran a poll of knowledge about legal rights. We asked people “How confident are you that you know your legal rights if you are stopped and searched by the police?”

The Victim Care Service, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and provided by Victim Support, has been awarded the Safe Lives Leading Lights accreditation for the support it provides for people in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight who have experienced domestic abuse.

Cyber Ambassadors (aged 7-16 years) from Hampshire came together to celebrate their successes in helping keep their peers safe online as part of Safer Internet Day 2020 on Tuesday 6 February.