THE last 12 months has been a whirlwind of a year. The world of policing hasn’t stood still, but I have enjoyed working at pace to find solutions that make your communities safer.

We’ve seen changes to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary this year, changes I’m glad to have initiated and supported. To recap, the force successfully recruited 600 extra officers, that’s in addition to those leaving. Ending mandatory degrees for new police officers means hundreds of thousands of hours are now spent out on patrol rather than in classrooms, and I was able to pledge a further 50 new officer roles in this year’s budget to make way for new Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams.

My commitment to improving the 101 service has not wavered; I continue to review call waiting times and hold the force to account on delivering that frontline service. Just 23 per cent of calls to police are crime related which must change to free-up call handlers to offer swift help to those in need.

Hiring a new Chief Constable who has reorganised the force and put excellent local policing as one of his top priorities has resulted in a decrease in crime rates and uptick in charges. This approach is cutting through bureaucracy to deliver the straight-forward, crime fighting function you expect.

With more numbers there comes more visibility. This is why I announced an 18 month plan to reopen 10 more police stations and put officers back in the heart of communities, in addition to bringing back named Local Bobbies to every community in 2024.

The future of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is that it is going to be open for business, ready to take your call, respond to you in your time of need, and take on the criminals at court with quality investigations.

Looking ahead, I will be focused on providing the best possible services for victims of crime, and ensuring the force is fit the future. In January I will be setting the budget for the year ahead. This year, I was able to make a huge investment in police stations and staff with your support to ensure that the force has the resources and infrastructure needed to make Hampshire and Isle of Wight the safest places to live, work and visit in the country.

I will continue to lead the fight against crime by working closely with the Chief Constable and our partners to make sure you get the policing service you deserve.

I wish you all a happy and safe start to 2024.