THE HAMPSHIRE Police and Crime Commissioner has been discussing plans to crack down on crime with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary.

Donna Jones joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson at number 10 to announce a national plan which could lead to less crime, fewer victims, and a safer country.

Also in attendance were Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse

Initiatives rolled out in Hampshire and Southampton include Violence Reduction Units to tackle knife crime, a review of 101 and 999 to improve call answering times and the introduction of an Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force to bring partners and police together to tackle local ASB.

Ms Jones said: “The Plan focusses on bringing down crime, particularly violent crime as well as tougher sentences for violent offenders. I am concerned about the growth of knives on local streets and I welcome the recent increased funding to continue to deliver work through the four local Violence Reduction Units to reduce knife crime here in Hampshire.

“The plan introduces steps to make it easier for police officers to use stop and search powers and I wholly welcome this.

“I was recently speaking with my Youth Commission members and they were asking me to do more stop and search because they don’t feel safe anymore.

“Sadly young people, particularly boys, are most at risk of being affected by knife crime and there have been some stabbings of young people in our local communities, so until knife crime stops I support stop and search.

“I have pledged to ensure the recruitment of 600 more police officers for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by the end of 2023, which is part of the Government’s national police uplift to increase the national number of officers by 20,000.”