Hampshire sees 15 per cent increase in 999 calls - leaving neighbourhood policing stretched

Police are increasingly pulling neighbourhood officers away from their communities due to a surge in 999 calls, Hampshire’s police commissioner has admitted.

Donna Jones told councillors there has been a 15 per cent rise in 999 demands since January.

The comments came after Conservative Gosport councillor Lesley Meenaghan raised concerns at a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel meeting on July 8, following a weekend of heightened anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Cllr Meenaghan questioned whether neighbourhood officers should be ringfenced to ensure a consistent presence on the streets, particularly during busy periods.

Three separate dispersal orders were issued by police in Gosport the weekend before the panel meeting alone, she said.

Responding, Mrs Jones said: “When times are really, really busy, and we’re in our busy summer period right now, a neighbourhood policing team should never be abstracted unless it’s an absolute risk to life.

“Unfortunately, these teams are being abstracted a bit more at the moment than they normally would be, and that is because we have seen a 15 per cent increase in our 999 calls alone since January.”

She said the rise reflects wider pressures seen across the county.

Cllr Meenaghan also pressed the commissioner on whether further funding could be made available to support community safety measures, particularly in town centres.

Ms Jones confirmed her community safety grants fund will reopen in October, with bids ranging from £5,000 to £25,000.

She added: “I think Gosport has had more bids in and more grants from my anti-social behaviour fund than any other.”

Ms Jones pointed to the ongoing work for the new police station in Gosport, saying it would help improve response times and act as a deterrent to crime.

Cllr Meenaghan, speaking after the meeting, said recent policing action in Gosport showed officers were responding robustly to incidents.

She also urged parents to keep track of their children, adding that while most young people are “a credit”, peer pressure can lead to poor decisions.