POLICE officers have passed a vote of no confidence in Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane after his budget proposals were deemed “unacceptable”.

Staggered by Mr Lane’s proposal to spend more on his own office than frontline policing, Hampshire Police Federation asked more than 2,800 officers if they had confidence in the incumbent, who was elected in 2016.

The poll attracted a 60 per cent turnout, with 98 per cent of officers voting against Mr Lane.

The vote came after a row at a Hampshire Police and Crime Panel meeting in January when Mr Lane was advised to “think again” over his plan to cut 162 officer and support staff posts while increasing his own “low” office spending.

During the meeting, crime panel members were asked to approve the commissioner’s recommendation to raise the council tax precept by an additional £12 for the year 2018/19, or an extra 23p a week, for residents living in a Band D property.

This would equate to a total increase of £177.46 per year for the average Band D property, for the year beginning April 1.

While approving of the idea, members were clearly shocked by the suggestion that the additional funding would go, not on keeping officers on the beat, but on the crime commissioner’s staff.

While the commissioner was advised to “go back to the drawing board”, Hampshire Police Federation chairman John Apter accused him of misleading the public over a council tax hike, calling for a vote of no confidence in Mr Lane.

While the vote is not binding and will not force the commissioner out of office, an investigation has been announced into his performance.

On Twitter, Mr Apter said of the result: “Tough day today, sometimes doing the right thing can be an uncomfortable place but if it’s the right thing it’s worth it. Giving the troops a voice is key, it matters to them and to me.”

Commenting on the result of the poll, Mr Lane said: “I care about our police officers and staff, and working to ensure people in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton are safer is my absolute priority.

“I take the views of all police officers, including those who took the time to vote, extremely seriously and I will continue to work to build confidence and trust.

“I have done all I can and continue to do all I can within budget to ensure victims are supported, vulnerable people are protected and the Chief Constable is empowered to ensure policing is as effective and efficient as possible. I continue to invest more than 98 per cent of my total budget in policing.”

With recent heightened interest in policing and budgets, Mr Lane has since outlined what he has striven to maintain and protect.

“My focus remains on delivering my promise to keep people safer. I want to reassure residents of the Hampshire Constabulary policing area that I am doing everything within my power to support victims, protect the vulnerable, and empower operationally effective policing.

“I continue to invest 98.3 per cent of my total budget in policing but am fiercely protective of the value of the relatively small amount supporting interventions beyond policing for the benefit of communities and individuals – as well as the reduction that they make to demand on policing.”

Despite tight budgets, Mr Lane says he has:

n Sustained frontline policing by protecting 160 officer posts from being cut in 2018/19, made possible from this year’s precept increase;

n Enhanced safety by increasing the number of armed response officers at an additional cost of £800,000 per year;

n Recognised the risks to frontline officers by increasing the number of tasers (up to £800,000 from reserves, plus yearly costs of £160,000);

n Recognised the risks to frontline officers by providing spit hoods (more than £9,000);

n Improved operational effectiveness through the roll out of mobile technology to response and patrol teams (£1.6m) and to consider the same for other teams;

n Improved operational effectiveness through technology, via a new contact management platform (approximately £30m in partnership with Thames Valley Police, Hampshire’s contribution almost £14m including Police Innovation Fund bid) to provide a more efficient service for the public. Estimated to save 20% of officer time.

n Protecting the marine unit at a cost of £557,000 until a more cost-effective partnered solution can be developed; and

n Released additional police to the frontline and enhanced police support by investing in the police estate, returning £2m per year to the budget for 2020, while improving public, partner and policing support.

Mr Lane added: “My area continues to be underfunded by the national funding formula (two-thirds of the funding available). But the welcome option of a £12 increase to the local precept has protected policing services from additional cuts that would otherwise have been necessary to stay within budget.

“This increase has also allowed a balanced budget to be set for next year 2019/20 to mitigate a shortfall that would otherwise have applied.

“This creates a sustainable policing environment to allow further efficiencies to be made and, importantly, other changes to deliver enhanced operational effectiveness.”