Rise agreed in Hampshire police share of council tax to hire 50 more officers

FIFTY more police officers could be on the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight after a hike in the force's share of the council tax was agreed.

The police and crime panel agreed to support police and crime commissioner Donna Jones' 6.3% rise for a band D household, writes Toby Paine of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Previously residents paid £236.46 towards the police per annum for a band D home, which will now go up by £15.

The charge makes up a minority portion of the overall council tax, which also includes demands by county, district and parish councils, plus the fire service.

Speaking to the panel, Mrs Jones promised that the 50 additional officers will be hired within 12 months.

The extra £15 will allow an increase in wages which officers have not seen in four years, she said, as well as investing in additional staff and in IT systems to tackle cybercrime.

She said 8,409 people supported the consultation into whether residents agreed to increase the budget for the police.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney added: "We are not immune to inflation. Everything that we need to buy is much more expensive from boots to walkie-talkies or vests.

"Those 50 will provide additional support. They all will go to operational and visible roles. However, the recruitment doesn’t stop here. This needs to be a precedent for following years."

The new levy will provide the force with an extra £12.3m from council tax. Central government is likely to grant £4.2m on top.

Mrs Jones set out an ambition in 2021 to have 600 additional police officers working for the constabulary by the end of 2023.

If the 50 officers are hired within 12 months the force would have exceeded its target.