HAMPSHIRE Constabulary is to recruit more than 100 new officers to the benefit of both urban and rural communities.

The announcement, made by Hampshire and the Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes on Tuesday, follows the Chancellor’s announcement in his Autumn Statement that he has scrapped plans for further budget cuts.

Hampshire’s recruitment decision will see the biggest influx of new officers to enter the force since 2010. And it will enable Chief Constable Andy Marsh to honour Mr Hayes’ commitment to neighbourhood policing in both rural and urban areas.

Mr Hayes said: “Previous years of government policy cutting funding has put intolerable strain on policing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I don’t believe that officer numbers can be cut any further while protecting people and places in the way the public expect.

“We will be recruiting 108 new police officers into Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as soon as possible. This supports my commitment to neighbourhood policing and will have a direct benefit to all communities.

“These new recruits will bring much-needed support to those officers and staff who have been so stretched in protecting the public in recent difficult times.”

Mr Hayes’ police and crime plan lays out a clear expectation that Hampshire Constabulary will become more representative of all communities, and specifically “black minority ethnic” officers and staff.

He continued: “Within this wave of recruitment, we will look to increase the percentage of black minority ethnic officers and staff in the force. The Constabulary must now deliver on its commitment in this respect.”

Mr Hayes’ commitment to cost-saving programmes across the two counties has helped to support frontline policing despite government cuts.

Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks and can be expected to include details of how new investment will be made to combat cyber crime and bolster the force’s firearms capability.

Commenting on the proposed increase in neighbourhood policing, Mark Kemp-Gee, county councillor for Alton Rural division, said: “Obviously I welcome this news representing, as I do, 18 parishes spread over 100 square miles of rural Hampshire.

“Various types of rural crime, such as poaching and shed burglary, have been on the increase and there have been epidemics of machinery theft which might otherwise have been set to continue given the amount of building sites sprouting up.”

He continued: “Despite this, Chief Inspector Beth Pirie and her team in Alton have been doing a fantastic job in the area and, provided East Hampshire receives its fair share of extra police numbers, then the future looks bright.”

Speaking on behalf of the urban community, Andrew Joy, county councillor for Alton Urban division, said: “This increase in frontline police numbers is a welcome, positive step. I hope that this will help improve the resilience of Alton’s neighbourhood police team. They do a great job in deterring crime and inhibiting anti-social behaviour, but they are stretched.

“Any reinforcement will increase their capacity to respond across our area. They deserve our support and thanks.”

Commenting on behalf of Alton Town Council, leader Peter Hicks added: “We are fortunate to have a really proactive, visible safer neighbourhood team here in Alton led by Sergeant Winter and her team and it is reassuring to know that the number of officers on our streets will not be reduced following the commissioner’s announcement.

“If we are able to benefit locally from the additional officers being recruited, this will be welcome news.”