By Isle of Wight Observer
In March 2023, the previous government announced every police force in England and Wales would receive at least £1 million to ramp up patrols to tackle violence and disorder, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Hampshire & Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, received £1.4 million to ramp up uniformed patrols and tackle ASB in hotspot areas.
The commissioner distributed £750k of the grant to local authorities to conduct uniformed patrols instead to free up police time. Ryde and Newport received 75k to target ASB and these patrols are happening.
I hope that residents and businesses know that community engagement is vital, as shown by local success stories where anti-social behaviour markedly decreased due to proactive policing and local partnership efforts. Please always report anything you see or experience to either 101, the Hampshire ASB website or your local bobbie.
Ryde front desk rebuild looks finished now, so shortly it will be opened officially; I am still waiting for the date. I will make sure you all know when it is open to the public. I have lobbied for this since taking over as cabinet member because it so important to the community.
Some may not be aware that I am now the chairman of the Police & Crime Panel; this means I have been elected to chair meetings and work with panel members to make sure all our areas are represented. I am delighted to champion our Island. The panel scrutinises the actions and decisions of Donna Jones, the PCC, acting as a critical friend and making sure information is available for residents. I will ask if we can have a panel meeting on the Island so that local residents get a chance to attend.
I am also a member of the Island’s Youth Justice Board. The aim is to support those in need to move away from offending behaviour and achieve more positive outcomes. Working with key partners and other agencies, the board seeks to provide a high-quality service. We consider individual factors, giving support and confidence to the community that is providing needed public resources for our youth.
