Labour Government delivers 65 new neighbourhood police officers for Hampshire within a year as part of £200 million national investment to recruit 13,000 officers, welcomed by Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin.
Portsmouth North’s Labour MP Amanda Martin has praised the delivery of 65 additional neighbourhood police officers for Hampshire, announced as part of the Labour Government’s comprehensive policing investment programme.
The recruitment drive forms part of a substantial £200 million government commitment aimed at bringing 13,000 neighbourhood police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) onto Britain’s streets by the end of this parliamentary term.
Nearly 3,000 additional police officers and PCSOs will be deployed in neighbourhood roles by March 2026 under this initial funding injection, with Hampshire receiving up to 65 of these positions.
The initiative represents a crucial step towards tackling antisocial behaviour and street-level criminality that has plagued town centres across the region. From July onwards, all police forces will conduct patrols during peak hours, delivering the enhanced visibility and community presence that high streets have desperately needed.
During Conservative governance, neighbourhood policing faced severe cuts, leaving more than half the public reporting they never encountered a police officer on patrol. Under Conservative leadership, PCSO numbers were halved whilst Special Constable numbers dropped by two-thirds, coinciding with escalating shoplifting and street crime rates.
The Labour administration is committed to rebuilding essential connections between police services and local communities, ensuring officers maintain visibility and presence within their designated areas whilst targeting crimes including antisocial behaviour, retail theft, and illegal off-road biking.
Complementing the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the Government’s forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill will introduce comprehensive new enforcement powers. These include Respect Orders for persistent antisocial offenders, immediate seizure powers for dangerous off-road motorcycles disrupting high streets, and creating a specific offence for assaulting retail workers. The Conservative Party opposed these measures.
The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee ensures every area receives designated, contactable neighbourhood policing teams by July, with officers conducting regular patrols during peak periods.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP commented: “Conservative policies devastated neighbourhood policing whilst shoplifting and street theft escalated unchecked. This represented the Tories’ catastrophic law and order legacy, with communities bearing the consequences.
“This Labour Government remains determined to restore community policing nationwide, providing officers with necessary powers to address local criminality.
“With 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers and PCSOs this year alone, we’re demonstrating Labour’s transformative impact.”
Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth, stated: “I’m thrilled the Labour Government is delivering additional neighbourhood police for Hampshire. Conservative cuts decimated neighbourhood policing numbers whilst public confidence in law enforcement collapsed. Under their governance, respect for legal authority deteriorated and constituents lost faith in justice delivery.
“Labour is restoring neighbourhood policing to constituencies including mine. We’re equipping police and councils with necessary powers to address persistent antisocial behaviour and maintain community safety. Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to reclaim town centres from criminals and troublemakers.”
