Hampshire Chief Constable makes case for council tax increase

Olivia Pinkney wants to bring the fight to the criminals.

The Chief Constable for Hampshire is fully in support of a £15 council tax increase and has outlined her case.

Ms Pinkney says the rise will mean police will be able to arrest an extra 300 of the most dangerous organised criminals who run county lines drug networks across Hampshire.

Hampshire Constabulary’s chief constable Olivia Pinkney (from Twitter)

The rise means residents could pay an extra £15 a year for a band D property - a 7.1 per cent increase from £0 at present.

However, the money would be used to fund an additional 146 police officers, reduce 1,000 crimes a year, through new prevention work, and to investigate 26,000 more crimes.

Furthermore, the Chief Constable states it could lead to better justice for victims and holding more criminals to account.

It comes following an extensive public survey involving 8,348 respondents.

In total, 66.1 per cent of participants from across the county support a £15 increase.

In Southampton, 67.09 per cent of those asked were in favour and 71.66 per cent in Eastleigh.

However, only 62.47 per cent of New Forest participants would support the rise.

And in Winchester, 68.36 per cent.

Newport - Police - Hampshire Constabulary - Hampshire Police - Isle of Wight Police.

Ms Pinkney will include her case in papers submitted by the Police and Crime Commissioner to Hampshire’s Police and Crime Panel.

She said: “I do not make this operational case lightly and I am fully conscious that many people and businesses face economic difficulties. The simple truth is despite Hampshire’s officers being rated as some of the most productive in the whole country I am not currently in a position to be able to investigate as many crimes as I would want to as your chief constable.

“This will help to move us to a position where we have the opportunity to take the fight more and more to those criminals who blight our community. Anything other than a £15 per year increase flies in the face of the operational evidence of what we need to deliver safer communities.”

On news that support from the public extends to every district of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, chief constable Olivia Pinkney added:

“I am delighted that the operational policing view chimes with the public, whose collective voice has been heard loud and clear. I cannot thank people enough for their continued support at time when my officers and staff are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe.”