HAMPSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane held a ‘safer together’ event to showcase some of the work he has done in his first year in office.

With a ‘tardis’ photo booth open and free to the public, examples of confiscated weapons and stalls from some of the community groups he has supported, the public were invited to take a seat in a police car and chat to the commissioner himself.

But although the commissioner has invested more than £1.7 million in 70 community groups over the last twelve months, as previously reported Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney has called for “clarity” on police funding, and said: “If funding remains the same, and despite all of the additional efficiencies we will deliver, there will be a gap starting from the next financial year.

“For the public that means we would not be able to provide the same services that we do today.”

Speaking at the Westquay event, Michael Lane said Hampshire is currently “unfairly funded” compared to other parts of the country, but any further funding put in place should take into account the “change” in types of crime and make the force more “operationally effective”.

He said: “Criminals are changing and police officers need to be working differently.”

He added that officers might need to be office based more of the time to deal with “digital” crime.

At the event the commissioner presented a new football strip to Unity 101 FC, a local youth football team which he has sponsored.

Ram Kalyan ‘Kelly’, station manager at Unity 101 FM, said: “Bringing people together to share our beautiful game makes our community stronger with a common goal to be the best whatever our faith. Our thanks to Michael for his donation towards our kit.”