More than 165 years ago the debate was raging about whether the Isle of Wight should share services with Hampshire, as this extract from the Isle of Wight Observer on the 29th October 1859 shows.

AWFUL ATTACK ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT POCKETS.

Having been compelled to attend the sessions held last week at Winchester, we were struck with the great surprise at the very large number of cases tried there for criminal offences committed by soldiers, and their paramours.

[…] We were informed, that Aldershot and Gosport furnished the bulk of the criminal cases for the County! Good Heavens, thought we, here is an attack upon the breeches pockets of the Isle of Wight. […]

We have often asked the question, – Why should not the Isle of Wight be made a separate County for Judicial purposes? The only answer is, because of the Assizes and the Police; which we consider no answer at all, as those points could be compounded for. On the other side, the disadvantages are enormous: a person is committed to gaol for three days in default for the payment of a small fine for drunkenness – dragged to Winchester.

[N.B. The expenses up and down of the policeman in charge is little under 10s.] A boy has stolen a pennyworth of apples: three days imprisonment and once to be privately whipped – dragged to Winchester. A vagrant has become a pest: seven days’ hard labour – dragged up to Winchester: but what for? Because the “Great Unpaid” of Hampshire will ride their hobby-horse of UNIFORMITY OF DISCIPLINE; at least, that is all we can get out of them in conversation, or otherwise. The attempt to disintegrate the island would raise their ire; but what of that? We partake of none of the advantages of the great establishments and consequent outlay of Aldershot and Gosport, then why should we be called with the cost of their crime, – it is just?