THE outgoing chief constable of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary has supported a precept hike which will see bills across the region rise an average of £15 next year.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said the public had outlined officer numbers and visibility as the two categories most important to them so she had no hesitation in asking for the most money allowed.

She said even with the uplift, the constabulary's will remain as one of the cheapest precepts compared to other forces.

As part of the increase, 50 new officers will be recruited in line with Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones' plan 'More Police, Safer Streets'.

A pledge of 600 new officers between 2020 and 2023 was made across the region but with the extra cash it could take on 650 officers by March 2024.

Referring to the 'serious cost of living crisis', Chief Constable Pinkney said while thoughts turned to the people who are suffering, operational policing was not exempt.

She said police officers are feeling the impact and cannot strike like others, so it is important their voice is heard and they feel supported as they continue to deliver core services.

Inflationary pressures on the constabulary, Chief Constable Pinkney said, would account for almost all of the funding increase and anything less than the average £15 increase would not unlock more police officers.

The six per cent increase was agreed at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel today (Friday) and will see bills rise between £10 and £30 depending on your council tax band.

The force has made real progress in the last year, she said, and since April 2022 had arrested 24,073 people for 45,689 offences across the area — a three per cent increase on the year before.

Chief Constable Pinkney will leave policing in April this year and be replaced by Scott Chilton, the former Chief Constable of Dorset Police.

Speaking after the meeting, Chief Constable Pinkney said she was pleased the panel supported the budget and will put Chief Constable Chilton in the best position to deliver on his plans for the future of the constabulary.