Hampshire Constabulary
Encyclopedia
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force
responsible for policing Hampshire
and the Isle of Wight
in southern England.
The force area includes the cities of Winchester
, Southampton
and Portsmouth
. The current Hampshire Constabulary dates from 1967 but modern policing in Hampshire can be traced back to 1832.
status to the Island.
During the 19th century, Hampshire County Constabulary absorbed various borough forces including Basingstoke Borough Police (1836–1889), Romsey Borough Police (1836–1865), Lymington Borough Police (1836–1852) and Andover Borough Police (1836–1846).
In 1943, during the Second World War, due to the Defence (Amalgamation of Police Forces) Regulations of 1942 Hampshire County Constabulary absorbed the Isle of Wight and Winchester forces to form Hampshire Joint Police Force. City forces such as Southampton City Police and Portsmouth City Police remained independent.
In 1948, the merger was made permanent and regularised, with Hampshire Joint Police Force being renamed Hampshire Constabulary.
The name was changed once again in 1952, to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. In 1967 Hampshire, and city forces Southampton and Portsmouth were amalgamated under the Police Act 1964
becoming the current Hampshire Constabulary. In 1974, the Local Government Act
meant that responsibility for policing Christchurch
moved to the control of Dorset. Since then, apart from minor border changes, the force area has remained the same. In 1965, the force had an establishment of 1,346 and an actual strength of 1,137.
The Hampshire Constabulary is overseen by Hampshire Police Authority, an independent organisation intended to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the force.
The force is currently divided into 6 local policing divisions known as Operational Command Units (OCUs)
. The accompanying map shows the divisions, along with major cities in the county.
(New HQ & Command Center being built in Chandlers Ford outside Southampton)
Until April 2006 Hampshire Constabulary was divided into 10 Basic Command Units (BCUs) with 46 associated police stations as follows:
Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Simon Cole
Assistant Chief Constable Territorial Operations: Laura Nicholson
Assistant Chief Constable Crime and Criminal Justice: David Pryde
Assistant Chief Constable Human Resource and Operations: Steve Dann
Director of Finance and Resources Michael Coombes
, M271
& M275
as well as many other 'A' roads including the A3
, A27
, A31
, A34
, A303
and many more.
. The unit is headed by an Inspector, and is made up of 2 Sergeants, 26 Constables and several civilian staff. The dogs are trained in variety of skills including passive drug searching, firearms, explosives, ammunitions, and currency searching, as well as locating people in any kind of situation including collapsed buildings.
, a joint consortium established to provide police aviation for Sussex Police, Surrey Police and Hampshire Constabulary. Formed in October 2010, it is based in Hampshire and West Sussex. The consortium includes two EC135 Eurocopter's
& 1 Britten-Norman Islander
.
on the site of the first headquarters which were built in 1847. The building can be seen on the skyline from most approaches to the city. The force's central administration departments are based here together with the Chief Constable and staff officers. Plans where announced (24 June 2008) to sell off the building for development and to move the headquarters to Southampton, and building on the new site began in 2009. However the majority of the operational headquarters’ departments including the force control room are located at the Support Headquarters in Netley
, just outside Southampton
.
Male constables and sergeants of Hampshire Constabulary wear the traditional custodian helmet
in the comb style for foot patrol. However unlike most forces, Hampshire is one of only three that does not use the more common Brunswick star
style badge, favouring instead a large metal plate in the shape of a wreath with a crowned rose and a banner that reads 'Hampshire'.
Constables wear larger helmet plates of uncoloured white metal whilst sergeants have a slightly smaller helmet plate that includes blue and red enamelled detail to the crown, rose and county title. The helmet plate worn by constables is the largest of all those worn by forces in England and Wales making them stand out in the company of officers from other areas.
Officers wear a peaked cap
when on mobile patrol in vehicles and white peaked caps for Roads Policing Unit
(RPU) officers. Female officers wear a bowler hat, or a white bowler hat for female RPU officers. PCSO's always wear a peaked cap with a blue band.
Officers holding the rank of Inspector or above always wear the peaked cap.
s, just the rank
and collar number
. PCSO's wear a similar uniform, however instead of a black wicking shirt they have a blue polo shirt.
Formal dress comprises an open-necked tunic, with white shirt/blouse and tie/cravat. Constable
s and Sergeant
s wear custodian helmet
's and collar numbers on their epaulette
s, all higher ranked officers wear peaked caps, name badges and their rank on their epaulettes. The No.1 uniform is accompanied by black boots or shoes and occasionally black gloves, or brown gloves for the rank of Inspector and above.
Hampshire Constabulary also list leggings
as part an optional piece of uniform.
digital radios, HTC PDAs, Hiatt
rigid handcuffs, CS incapacitant gas
, the ASP
21" collapsible baton, leg restraints, a resuscitation mask and a basic first aid kit. PCSO's don't carry ASPs, handcuffs, leg restraints or PAVA.
Should they be required to, some officers can use body-mounted cameras.
Police vehicles contain a variety of equipment, which can include Arnold batons, traffic cone
s, road signs, breathalyzer
s, stingers
, speed guns and more.
.
The force uses many different vehicles. Some of them are listed below with principal uses.
Volvo xc70 - rural area car
Hampshire Constabulary use the modern yellow and blue retro-reflective Battenberg markings all over all operational vehicles with the force crest on the bonnet.
Hampshire Constabulary used to use a distinctive traditional vehicle paint scheme of red and white diagonal stripes above a chequered blue and white band for many years. Hampshrie Constabulary stopped using these police car markings between 2000-2005 when Battenburg markings
were invented.
Hampshire Constabulary currently is not recruiting Constables, PCSOs, transferred officers, civilian staff or control room operators due to budget cuts
. They are only hiring for roles that need to be filled.
They are however aggressively recruiting people for voluntary roles such as Police Support Volunteer
and Special Constabulary
, making their target of recruiting 425 by 2009.
Training for new recruits in Hampshire is held at the Headquarters. For Constable
s it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSO
s it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15-weeks probationary period. For Special Constable
s it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a two-year probationary period or less, dependent on the number of tours of duty.
Recruits receive their warrant card
and uniform in the first two months of training. Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.
for 2009/2010 found that crime had fallen in 5 out of 7 key offences in Hampshire, in one case fallen by 27% for 'Theft of a vehicle'. The other two key offences had not risen or fallen. Reported crime was slightly below national average, between -0.28 and -2.84. Assistant Chief Constable
David Pryde called these figures 'very positive for the residents of Hampshire and Isle of Wight'.
marked Hampshire Constabulary as 'Fair' at 'Local crime and policing' and ' Confidence and satisfaction', and 'Good' at 'Protecting from serious harm'. They achieved good and fair marks for all aspects of policing except 'Excellent' at 'Suppressing gun crime' and 'Poor' for 'Comparative satisfaction of BME community'.
Hampshire Constabulary overall 'has a low crime rates and is a comparatively safe place to live'. The force employs slightly less officers and staff than its peer forces, and is therefore slightly cheaper to run, yet has the similar levels of confidence as its peers. Hampshire showed particular strength in 'tackling serious crime'.
In that period Hampshire were above national average for complaints concerning 'Neglect or Failure in duty' and 'Oppressive Conduct or Harassment'.
Of the total amount of complaints received 1% were discontinued, 3% were dispensed and 5% were withdrawn. Complaints dispensed and withdrawn were both 5% lower than the national average. 11% of complaints were found to have 'substantiated finding', 4% higher than the national average.
draws on his knowledge of the Hampshire Constabulary, in particular Portsmouth CID for his series of police procedural novels. Set in Portsmouth and revolving around the fictional Detective Inspector Joe Faraday they portray a gritty picture of the city and its crime.
Ruth Rendell
's series of crime novels are set in the fictional town of Kingsmarkham. In the books the town is described as being in Sussex
, however when the books were televised, Romsey
was chosen as the setting for the location filming. Inspector Wexford is often seen wearing a Hampshire Constabulary tie and warrant card badge. Hampshire Constabulary authorised the use of the force logo and have provided props and material for the series.
Hampshire Constabulary has featured in various series of Traffic Cops
, an occasional BBC One
documentary. The programme focuses on the work of Hampshire's Roads Policing officers and highlights issues relating to road safety and reducing the number of road deaths and serious injuries. In previous series, Traffic Cops has attracted over seven million viewers.
Hampshire Constabulary was followed for a documentary following the work of the emergency services in the UK. This particular documentary was named Real Rescues
and had a total of 69 episodes over three series since October 15, 2007. Real Rescues was broadcast on BBC One
.
Hampshire Constabulary was involved with Channel 4 to record three episodes, The Force
, following detectives at Portsmouth and Hulse Road, Southampton. This documentary focused on the more serious crimes and showed the in-depth investigation taken by the detectives. It also featured Hampshire's dedicated Rape unit.
. The colloboration is the first of its kind in the UK, the force assists in investigations and provides intelligence and knowledge relevant to incidents. The team is made up of officers from both supporting organisations and a specialised dog that can detect deliberate fire starting articles such as lighter fluid.
, fly-tipping
and nusiance vehicles. The programme promotes reassurance and communications, particularly between rural and neighbourhood officers. Assistant Chief Constable Laura Nicholson is the ACPO lead for CountryWatch.
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
responsible for policing Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in southern England.
The force area includes the cities of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. The current Hampshire Constabulary dates from 1967 but modern policing in Hampshire can be traced back to 1832.
History
The first police force formed in Hampshire was Winchester City Police in 1832. Hampshire County Constabulary was formed seven years later in 1839 as a result of the County Police Act of that year. The Isle of Wight County Constabulary was formed in 1890 with the granting of administrative countyAdministrative county
An administrative county was an administrative division in England and Wales and Ireland used for the purposes of local government. They are now abolished, although in Northern Ireland their former areas are used as the basis for lieutenancy....
status to the Island.
During the 19th century, Hampshire County Constabulary absorbed various borough forces including Basingstoke Borough Police (1836–1889), Romsey Borough Police (1836–1865), Lymington Borough Police (1836–1852) and Andover Borough Police (1836–1846).
In 1943, during the Second World War, due to the Defence (Amalgamation of Police Forces) Regulations of 1942 Hampshire County Constabulary absorbed the Isle of Wight and Winchester forces to form Hampshire Joint Police Force. City forces such as Southampton City Police and Portsmouth City Police remained independent.
In 1948, the merger was made permanent and regularised, with Hampshire Joint Police Force being renamed Hampshire Constabulary.
The name was changed once again in 1952, to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. In 1967 Hampshire, and city forces Southampton and Portsmouth were amalgamated under the Police Act 1964
Police Act 1964
The Police Act 1964 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that updated the legislation governing police forces in England and Wales, constituted new police authorities, gave the Home Secretary new powers to supervise local constabularies, and allowed for the amalgamation of existing...
becoming the current Hampshire Constabulary. In 1974, the Local Government Act
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
meant that responsibility for policing Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
Christchurch is a borough and town in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The town adjoins Bournemouth in the west and the New Forest lies to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 and is the most easterly borough in...
moved to the control of Dorset. Since then, apart from minor border changes, the force area has remained the same. In 1965, the force had an establishment of 1,346 and an actual strength of 1,137.
The Hampshire Constabulary is overseen by Hampshire Police Authority, an independent organisation intended to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the force.
Chief Constables
- 1839–1842 - Captain George Robbins
- 1842–1856 - Captain William C. Harris CB
- 1856–1891 - Captain John Henry Forrest
- 1891–1893 - Captain Peregrine Henry Thomas Fellowes (died in office)
- 1894–1928 - Major St Andrew Bruce Warde
- 1928–1942 - Major Ernest Radcliffe Cockburn
- 1942–1962 - Sir Richard Dawnay Lemon
- 1962–1977 - Sir Douglas OsmondDouglas OsmondSir Douglas Osmond was the chief constable of Shropshire Constabulary and later Hampshire Constabulary. He is regarded as one of the first career chief constables in the UK.-Biography:...
- 1977–1988 - Sir John Duke
- 1988–1999 - Sir John Hoddinott
- 1999–2008 - Paul Kernaghan QPMQueen's Police MedalThe Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
- 2008–present - Alex MarshallAlex Marshall (police officer)Alexander John Marshall QPM, better known as Alex Marshall, is the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, he has held the post since October 16, 2008....
Significant events
- 1893 - Chief Constable Fellowes was injured outside Police HQ in Winchester while trying to stop a runaway horse; he died several days later from his wounds.
- 1970 - Isle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight Festival 1970The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
. - 1972 - An IRA car bomb exploded at 16th Parachute Brigade Headquarters in AldershotAldershotAldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, killing seven people. - 1982 - Havant Policing Scheme pioneered by Chief Constable John Duke, emphasized the need for linking communication technology with beat officers.
- 1984–1985 - The Miners' Strike. Along with other police forces Hampshire contributed officers to police the miners' strike under the umbrella of "Mutual Aid". Hampshire was the first to fly their officers to the strike areas.
- 1985 - The force aircraft, an Optica, crashed with loss of both crew.
- 1987 - The Great StormGreat Storm of 1987The Great Storm of 1987 occurred on the night of 15/16 October 1987, when an unusually strong weather system caused winds to hit much of southern England and northern France...
. The storm caused considerable damage across the force area including the destruction of Shanklin Pier. A Hampshire police officer, Chief Inspector John Smith, was one of the 19 casualties of the storm when a tree fell onto his car. - 2000 - In July 2000, the News of the WorldNews of the WorldThe News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
published an article about Sarah's Law. The article named and shamed pedofile's in the PaulsgrovePaulsgrovePaulsgrove is an area of northern Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Paulsgrove existed as a small hamlet on the old Portsmouth to Southampton road for many years. During the early twentieth century Paulsgrove Racecourse was built north of the village on the slopes of Portsdown Hill and a halt built...
area of Portsmouth leading to a mass riot. - 2006 - On 15 May Hampshire Constabulary became the first to launch the new single non-emergency telephone number (SNEN), 101, as an alternative for the 999 number for reporting less serious or anti-social offences.
- 2008 - EastleighEastleighEastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
MP Chris HuhneChris HuhneChristopher Murray Paul-Huhne, generally known as Chris Huhne is a British politician and cabinet minister, who is the current Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire...
revealed that a number of serving police officers have criminal convictions including benefit fraudBenefit fraudBenefit fraud is a form of welfare fraud as found within the system of government benefits paid to individuals by the UK welfare state.- What is benefit fraud? :...
, taking without consentTWOCTWOC is an acronym standing for Taking Without Owner's Consent. Synonyms used by police in the UK include UTMV: Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, and TADA or TDA: Taking and Driving Away...
and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. - 2010 - On 13 February violence erupted outside St. Mary's Stadium in SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
after the South Coast DerbySouth Coast derbyThe South Coast Derby, or Hampshire Derby, are terms used to describe football matches played between Portsmouth Football Club and Southampton Football Club.The two clubs are the largest on the southern coast of England, and lie only 17 miles apart...
. 12 people were seriously injured. This is not the first such incident involving rivals Southampton FC & Portsmouth FC, in 2003 violence spread across the Fratton area of PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
causing much damage to personal homes. Also in 2005 there was clashes in the St. Mary'sSt. Mary's-In Australia:* St Marys, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney* St Marys railway station, Sydney* North St Marys, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney* St. Marys, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide* St Marys, Tasmania, on the east coast of Tasmania-In Canada:...
& NorthamNorthamNortham is the name of a number of places around the world:* Northam, Devon - a town in Devon, England.* Northam railway station* Northam, Hampshire - A district of the city of Southampton, England...
areas of SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. - 2011 - On 22 May the force called in Marwell Wildlife to advise how to tranquilise a white tigerWhite tigerThe white tiger is a recessive mutant of the Bengal tiger, which was reported in the wild from time to time in Assam, Bengal, Bihar and especially from the former State of Rewa.-Color comparison:...
lurking in grass at Hedge EndHedge EndHedge End is a town and civil parish located in Hampshire in England. It is situated to the east of the City of Southampton, adjoining the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area.It is sometimes mistakenly claimed...
. The tiger turned out to be a life-size cuddly toy.
Divisions
Basic Command Unit
A Basic Command Unit is the largest unit into which territorial British Police forces are divided. This may actually be called a BCU or may have another designation, such as Division or Area. There are 228 BCUs in England and Wales.Most forces are divided into at least three BCUs and some have...
. The accompanying map shows the divisions, along with major cities in the county.
Central
- FarehamFarehamThe market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
- GosportGosportGosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
- HavantHavantHavant is a town in south east Hampshire on the South coast of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area. The town has rapidly grown since the end of the Second World War.It has good railway connections to London,...
- Hayling IslandHayling Island-Leisure activities:Although largely residential, Hayling is also a holiday, windsurfing and sailing centre, the site where windsurfing was invented....
- WaterloovilleWaterloovilleWaterlooville is a town in Hampshire, England approximately 8 miles north of Portsmouth.The town has a population itself of about 10,000 and is surrounded by Purbrook, Blendworth, Cowplain, Lovedean, Clanfield, Catherington, Crookhorn, Denmead, Hambledon, Horndean and Widley. It forms part of...
- AlresfordAlresfordAlresford may refer to:* Alresford, Essex, a village in Essex, England* New Alresford, a small town in Hampshire, England* Old Alresford, a village in Hampshire, England* the deanery of Alresford that includes the last two and other parishes...
- Bishop's WalthamBishop's WalthamBishop's Waltham is a small town in Hampshire, England situated at the head of the River Hamble. It is home to the ruins of Bishop's Waltham Palace, an English Heritage monument.-History:...
- WinchesterWinchesterWinchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
- Central OCU HQ.
Isle of Wight
- NewportNewport, Isle of WightNewport is a civil parish and a county town of the Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast of England. Newport has a population of 23,957 according to the 2001 census...
- IoW OCU HQ. - CowesCowesCowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
- RydeRydeRyde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
- ShanklinShanklinShanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
- VentnorVentnorVentnor is a seaside resort and civil parish established in the Victorian era on the south coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It lies underneath St Boniface Down , and is built on steep slopes and cliffs leading down to the sea...
- YarmouthYarmouth, Isle of WightYarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
North & East
- TadleyTadleyTadley is a town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire.During the 1950s and 1960s, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment , now known as AWE, became the area's largest employer, and a large number of houses were built during this period to accommodate AWRE workers...
- BasingstokeBasingstokeBasingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
- North & East OCU HQ. - WhitchurchWhitchurch, HampshireWhitchurch is a town in Hampshire, England. It is on the River Test, from Newbury, Berkshire, from Winchester, miles from Andover and miles from Basingstoke. Much of the town is a Conservation Area. Because of the amount of wildlife in and near the river, parts of the town are designated as...
- FleetFleet, HampshireFleet is a town and civil parish in the Hart district of Hampshire, England, located 37 miles south west of London. It is part of Hart District. The 2007 population forecast for Fleet was 31,687.-History:...
- FarnboroughFarnborough, Hampshire-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
- AldershotAldershotAldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
- YateleyYateleyYateley is a suburban town and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire. It lies in the north-eastern corner of Hart District Council. It includes the settlements of Frogmore and Darby Green. It had a population of 21,011 according to the 2001 census...
- AltonAlton, HampshireAlton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
- PetersfieldPetersfieldPetersfield can refer to any of the following places:*Petersfield, Hampshire, a market town in England*Petersfield, Jamaica, a small town in the parish of Westmoreland*Petersfield, Manitoba, in Canada*Petersfield, an area of Cambridge, England...
- WhitehillWhitehill, HampshireWhitehill is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is south of Bordon.The nearest railway station is Liss, south of the village.For more information on Whitehill-Bordon and the eco-town proposal, see Bordon....
City of Portsmouth
- EastneyEastneyEastney is a district located in the south east corner of Portsmouth, England on Portsea Island.Eastney started out as a small hamlet. In 1867 a barracks for the Royal Marines was built in the hamlet...
- SouthseaSouthseaSouthsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
- Portsmouth Central - Portsmouth OCU HQ.
- CopnorCopnorCopnor is one of the administrative districts of Portsmouth, England, located on the eastern side of Portsea Island. As Copenore, it was one of the three villages listed as being on Portsea Island in the Domesday book....
- North End
- CoshamCoshamCosham is a northern suburb of Portsmouth lying within the city boundary but off Portsea Island. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 along with Drayton and Wymering and Bocheland , Frodington and Copenore on the island.The name is of Saxon origin and means "Cossa's homestead"...
- StamshawStamshawStamshaw is a residential district of Portsmouth, located on the north western corner of Portsea Island in southern England.Much of it consists of dense rows of 'two up, two down' terraced housing built during the late 19th century and early 20th century for dockyard workers and their families...
- FarlingtonFarlington, PortsmouthFarlington is a district of Portsmouth. It is located in the north east of the city and is not actually on Portsea Island. Farlington was incorporated into the city in 1932 and now forms a continuous development with Cosham and Drayton....
- Old PortsmouthOld PortsmouthOld Portsmouth is a district of the city of Portsmouth. It is the area covered by the original town of Portsmouth as planned by Jean de Gisors. It is situated in the south west corner of Portsea Island....
- Fratton
- MiltonMilton, PortsmouthMilton is a primarily residential area of the city of Portsmouth, a unitary authority formerly in the English county of Hampshire. The area is located on the south eastern side of Portsea Island and is bordered on the east by Langstone Harbour...
City of Southampton
- Southampton Central - Southampton OCU HQ.
- BitterneBitterneBitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
- PortswoodPortswoodPortswood is a suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England. The suburb lies to the north-east of the city centre and is bounded by Freemantle, Highfield, Swaythling, St. Denys and Bevois Valley....
- ShirleyShirley, SouthamptonShirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton, England. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council houses in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with...
- Milbrook
- MaybushMaybushMaybush is a district in Southampton, England. Located in the western side of the city, Maybush is probably most famous as the former location of the Ordnance Survey head office.-Around Southampton:...
- Lordswood
- BassettBassett, SouthamptonBassett is a suburb and electoral ward of the City of Southampton, England. The suburb lies to the north of the city centre and is largely residential, including the University of Southampton's Glen Eyre Halls of residence complex, which houses around 2,100 students...
- SwaythlingSwaythlingSwaythling was once a village but over the years it has gradually become a suburb and electoral ward of Southampton in Hampshire, England. The ward has a population of 13,394....
- Thornhill
- SholingSholingSholing, previously Scholing, is a district on the eastern side of the city of Southampton in southern England. It is located between the districts of Bitterne, Thornhill and Woolston....
- WoolstonWoolston, SouthamptonWoolston is a suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston.The area is rich in maritime and aviation history...
Western
- AndoverAndover, HampshireAndover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
- StockbridgeStockbridge, HampshireStockbridge is a small town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of and a population of little under 600 people according to the 2001 census in Hampshire, England. It lies on the River Test, in the Test Valley district and renowned for trout fishing. The A30 road goes through...
- RomseyRomseyRomsey is a small market town in the county of Hampshire, England.It is 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles southwest of Winchester, neighbouring the village of North Baddesley...
- EastleighEastleighEastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
- Western OCU HQ. - Hedge EndHedge EndHedge End is a town and civil parish located in Hampshire in England. It is situated to the east of the City of Southampton, adjoining the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area.It is sometimes mistakenly claimed...
- TottonTotton and ElingTotton and Eling is a town and civil parish in Hampshire, UK, with a population of around 28,000 people. It is situated on the eastern edge of the New Forest and on the River Test, close to the city of Southampton and part of the city's urban area...
- HytheHythe, HampshireHythe is a village near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton...
- LyndhurstLyndhurst, HampshireLyndhurst is a village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. It is a popular tourist location with many independent shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels. The nearest city is Southampton located around nine miles to the north-east...
- LymingtonLymingtonLymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
- New MiltonNew MiltonNew Milton is a market town in south west Hampshire, England. The town has a high street and holds a market every Wednesday. Situated on the edge of the New Forest, the town is about 6 miles west of Lymington town centre and 12 miles east of Bournemouth town centre.-History:New Milton dates back...
- RingwoodRingwoodRingwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages....
- FordingbridgeFordingbridgeFordingbridge is a town and civil parish with a population of 5,700 on the River Avon in the New Forest District of Hampshire, England, near to the Dorset and Wiltshire borders and on the edge of the New Forest. It is south west of London, and south of the city of Salisbury. Fordingbridge is a...
Headquarters
- Police HQ - Winchester
- Operations Command - Netley (nr. Southampton)
(New HQ & Command Center being built in Chandlers Ford outside Southampton)
Previous territorial organisation
- Isle of Wight (Z)—Newport (HQ), Ryde, Shanklin, Ventnor, Yarmouth.
- New Forest (D)—Lyndhurst (HQ), Lymington, New Milton, Ringwood, Totton, Hythe, Fordingbridge.
- West Hampshire (W)—Eastleigh (HQ), Hedge End, Romsey, Andover, Stockbridge, Weyhill.
- Southampton (S)—Southampton Central (HQ), Bitterne, Shirley, Portswood.
- Central Hampshire (O)—Winchester—North Walls (HQ), Arlesford, Alton, Petersfield, Twyford, Whitehill.
- Solent East (H)—Fareham (HQ), Gosport, Meon Valley (Bishop's Waltham), Park Gate.
- Portsmouth (K)—Fratton (HQ), Portsmouth Central, Southsea, Cosham.
- Havant (J)—Havant (HQ), Hayling Island, Waterlooville.
- Basingstoke (B)—Basingstoke (HQ), Whitchurch, Tadley.
- North-East Hampshire (A)—Aldershot (HQ), Farnborough, Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Yateley.
Members of ACPO
Chief Constable (CC) Alex MarshallDeputy Chief Constable (DCC) Simon Cole
Assistant Chief Constable Territorial Operations: Laura Nicholson
Assistant Chief Constable Crime and Criminal Justice: David Pryde
Assistant Chief Constable Human Resource and Operations: Steve Dann
Director of Finance and Resources Michael Coombes
Road Policing Unit
Hampshire Constabulary patrol several miles of the M3 and M27M27 motorway
The M27 is a motorway in Hampshire, England. It is long and runs west-east from Cadnam to Portsmouth. It was opened in stages between 1975 and 1983. It is however unfinished as an extension to the east was planned...
, M271
M271 motorway
The M271 is a motorway near Southampton in Hampshire, England. It is long. Construction began in 1973 and it opened in 1975. It provides part of the route to Southampton Docks from the M27.-Route:...
& M275
M275 motorway
The M275 is a long, dual three-lane motorway in the county of Hampshire, southern England. It is the principal route for entering and leaving Portsmouth. It continues as the A3 into Portsmouth, and meets the M27 at its northern terminus...
as well as many other 'A' roads including the A3
A3 road
The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...
, A27
A27 road
The A27 is a major road in England. It runs from its junction with the A36 at Whiteparish in the county of Wiltshire. It closely parallels the south coast, where it passes through West Sussex and terminates at Pevensey in East Sussex.Between Portsmouth and Lewes, it is one of the busiest trunk...
, A31
A31 road
The A31 is a major trunk road in southern England that runs from Guildford in Surrey to Bere Regis in Dorset.-Route of road:The road begins in the centre of Guildford, meeting the A3 road before running south west along the Hog's Back. It continues past Farnham, Alton and New Alresford before...
, A34
A34 road
The A34 is a major road in England. It runs from the A6042 in Salford to Winchester in Hampshire. It forms a large part of the major trunk route from Southampton, via Oxford, to Birmingham, The Potteries and Manchester...
, A303
A303 road
The A303 is a 92-mile long trunk road in England. It is the main road between Basingstoke in Hampshire and Honiton in Devon. The M3, the A303 and the A30 together make up one of the main routes from London to South West England, running from London to Land's End in Cornwall...
and many more.
Dog Support Unit
Hampshire Constbulary started using canines in policing in 1959 with two dogs, they now have a variety of dogs in use in all divisions of the county, working 24 hours a day. They are based in NetleyNetley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
. The unit is headed by an Inspector, and is made up of 2 Sergeants, 26 Constables and several civilian staff. The dogs are trained in variety of skills including passive drug searching, firearms, explosives, ammunitions, and currency searching, as well as locating people in any kind of situation including collapsed buildings.
Tactical Firearms Support Unit
Hampshire Firearms Unit is a sub-department of the Operations department that responds to major and serious crimes where firearms are involved and firearms training. The unit responds to incidents with firearms and taser guns.Criminal Investigation Department
Hampshire's Criminal Investigation Department comes under the Crime department and is responsible for investigating all crimes using a variety of techniques that their Detectives have available to them.Marine Unit
The Marine Unit deals with all crime on the coasts of Hampshire, and has recently moved under the remit of CID because of the terrorism and serious crime connotations involved in guarding the coast. The unit has one Sergeant and nine Constables. They use two rigid inflatables and three semi displacement launches.Air Support Unit
Hampshire Air Support is provided by South East Air Support UnitSouth East Air Support Unit
The South East Air Support Unit is a joint consortium established to provide police aviation for Sussex Police, Surrey Police and Hampshire Constabulary. It was formed in October 2010 and gained a single Police Air Operator's Certificate on 1 April 2011. It is managed by Inspector Steve Cheeseman,...
, a joint consortium established to provide police aviation for Sussex Police, Surrey Police and Hampshire Constabulary. Formed in October 2010, it is based in Hampshire and West Sussex. The consortium includes two EC135 Eurocopter's
Eurocopter EC135
The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
& 1 Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
.
Locations
The headquarters of Hampshire Constabulary is located in a tall post-war office building in West Hill, WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
on the site of the first headquarters which were built in 1847. The building can be seen on the skyline from most approaches to the city. The force's central administration departments are based here together with the Chief Constable and staff officers. Plans where announced (24 June 2008) to sell off the building for development and to move the headquarters to Southampton, and building on the new site began in 2009. However the majority of the operational headquarters’ departments including the force control room are located at the Support Headquarters in Netley
Netley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
, just outside Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
Headgear
Custodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
in the comb style for foot patrol. However unlike most forces, Hampshire is one of only three that does not use the more common Brunswick star
Brunswick star
The Brunswick star is an emblem which in outline is an eight-pointed or sixteen-pointed star, but which is composed of many narrow rays. It is used in Britain to surround the Royal Cypher on various badges, such as that worn on the caps and helmets of almost all police forces...
style badge, favouring instead a large metal plate in the shape of a wreath with a crowned rose and a banner that reads 'Hampshire'.
Constables wear larger helmet plates of uncoloured white metal whilst sergeants have a slightly smaller helmet plate that includes blue and red enamelled detail to the crown, rose and county title. The helmet plate worn by constables is the largest of all those worn by forces in England and Wales making them stand out in the company of officers from other areas.
Officers wear a peaked cap
Peaked cap
A peaked cap, forage cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations and also by many uniformed civilian organizations such as law enforcement agencies...
when on mobile patrol in vehicles and white peaked caps for Roads Policing Unit
Road Policing Unit
The Road Policing Unit is the term for the Highway patrol within the majority of British police forces.-Responsibilities:RPUs work with the National Roads Policing Strategy, which has five strands:* Casualty reduction.* Counter-terrorism....
(RPU) officers. Female officers wear a bowler hat, or a white bowler hat for female RPU officers. PCSO's always wear a peaked cap with a blue band.
Officers holding the rank of Inspector or above always wear the peaked cap.
Uniform
When on duty officers wear a black wicking t-shirt with 'Police' on the sleeves, and black uniform trousers. Hampshire officers no longer use the traditional police jumper, having favoured the black fleece with police written on the chest and back. Hampshire officers do not have Brunswick stars on their epauletteEpaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s, just the rank
Police rank
- Australia :Generally, all police forces of Australia follow this rank structure with some individual state police forces have ranks differing slightly.Insignia of rank displayed on epaulette in italics and brackets...
and collar number
Collar number
A collar number, also known as a shoulder number, Force Identification Number or occasionally as Force Number , identifies uniformed officers, Police Community Support Officers , and some police staff in UK police forces. Although now displayed on epaulettes A collar number, also known as a...
. PCSO's wear a similar uniform, however instead of a black wicking shirt they have a blue polo shirt.
Formal dress comprises an open-necked tunic, with white shirt/blouse and tie/cravat. Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s and Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s wear custodian helmet
Custodian helmet
Custodian helmet or centurion helmet, technically known as a 'Home Office pattern helmet', is a helmet worn by many policemen in England and Wales.-History:...
's and collar numbers on their epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s, all higher ranked officers wear peaked caps, name badges and their rank on their epaulettes. The No.1 uniform is accompanied by black boots or shoes and occasionally black gloves, or brown gloves for the rank of Inspector and above.
Hampshire Constabulary also list leggings
Leggings
Leggings are a type of fitted clothing covering the legs, which can be worn by both men and women.Originally leggings were two separate garments, one for each leg....
as part an optional piece of uniform.
Equipment
Hampshire Constabulary officers carry TETRATerrestrial Trunked Radio
Terrestrial Trunked Radio is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification...
digital radios, HTC PDAs, Hiatt
Hiatt
-Companies:*Hiatt & Co. A defunct UK based handcuff manufacturer best known for their Speedcuffs.-People:*Brenda Hiatt, American author*Fred Hiatt, American journalist*Jack Hiatt , American baseball player*John Hiatt , American musician...
rigid handcuffs, CS incapacitant gas
CS gas
2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is the defining component of a "tear gas" commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent...
, the ASP
ASP, Inc.
Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. , is an offensive compliance weapons manufacturer providing equipment to law enforcement and private security companies. ASP is perhaps best known for its telescoping batons.-History:...
21" collapsible baton, leg restraints, a resuscitation mask and a basic first aid kit. PCSO's don't carry ASPs, handcuffs, leg restraints or PAVA.
Should they be required to, some officers can use body-mounted cameras.
Police vehicles contain a variety of equipment, which can include Arnold batons, traffic cone
Traffic cone
Traffic cones, also called traffic pylons, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, construction cones or witches' hats or safety wizards, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner...
s, road signs, breathalyzer
Breathalyzer
A breathalyzer or breathalyser is a device for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample...
s, stingers
Spike strip
A spike strip is a device used to impede or stop the movement of wheeled vehicles by puncturing their tires...
, speed guns and more.
Vehicles and livery
Hampshire Constabulary use many different makes of vehicles from BMW, Ford and Skoda for the diverse categories of response vehicles required by the modern Police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
The force uses many different vehicles. Some of them are listed below with principal uses.
- Mercedes Sprinter - Patrol Van and Prisoner Transport - 80 vehicles
- Ford FocusFord FocusThe Ford Focus is a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1998. Ford began sales of the Focus to Europe in July 1998 and in North America during 1999 for the 2000 model year....
- Response Car - 200 vehicles - Ford S-MaxFord S-MAXThe Ford S-Max is an MPV/saloon produced by the Ford Motor Company for the European market and by Chang'an Ford Automobile Co., Ltd for the Chinese market. Introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the S-Max went on sale alongside the new generation Galaxy in June 2006. It is intended to be...
- Collision Investigation Unit - 10 vehicles - Ford FiestaFord FiestaThe Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
- Neighbourhood policing - 60 vehicles - Ford MondeoFord MondeoThe Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
- Dog Section - 20 vehicles - Ford TransitFord TransitThe Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
- Neighbourhood policing - 20 vehicles - Ford Transit ConnectFord Transit ConnectThe Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van developed by Ford Europe and designed by Peter Horbury, introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort and Fiesta-based Courier van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year....
- CSI Unit - 10 vehicles - BMW 5 SeriesBMW 5 SeriesThe BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
- OCU Commander Unit - 12 vehicles - BMW 5 SeriesBMW 5 SeriesThe BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
- Armed Response - 20 vehicles - Škoda Octavia VRS Marked - Area Car - 20 vehicles
- Škoda Octavia VRS Unmarked - Roads Policing Unit - 10 vehicles
- Subaru LegacySubaru LegacyThe Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
Unmarked - Roads Policing Unit - 10 vehicles - BMW 530d - Roads Policing Unit - 60 vehicles
- BMW 330d - Roads Policing Unit - 30 vehicles
- BMW X5BMW X5The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
- Roads Policing Unit OR Armed Response - 25 vehicles - Nissan Navara - Mounted Police Unit or Rural Policing (Used to tow Horse Boxes) - 5 vehicles
- Land Rover Defender - Rural Policing - 5 vehicles
Volvo xc70 - rural area car
- Land Rover TangiLand Rover TangiThe Land Rover Tangi is the last in the line of a range of armoured vehicles, based on the Land Rover chassis used in policing during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. They have been used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and, since its renaming, by the Police Service of Northern Ireland...
- Public Disorder Unit - 12 vehicles - HondaHondais a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Pan-European Motorcycle - Road Policing and Escort Duties - 11 vehicles
Livery
Hampshire Constabulary used to use a distinctive traditional vehicle paint scheme of red and white diagonal stripes above a chequered blue and white band for many years. Hampshrie Constabulary stopped using these police car markings between 2000-2005 when Battenburg markings
Battenburg markings
Battenburg refers to a pattern of high-visibility markings used to maximise conspicuity, primarily used on vehicles of the emergency services, but also in other applications such as uniforms...
were invented.
Name
The different names of forces that have policed the modern counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are graphically illustrated in the following time-line:Strength and recruitment
Hampshire Constabulary employs over 6,000 people and over 425 volunteers. Of which roughly a third are frontline staff and officers.Hampshire Constabulary currently is not recruiting Constables, PCSOs, transferred officers, civilian staff or control room operators due to budget cuts
June 2010 United Kingdom Budget
The June 2010 United Kingdom Budget, officially known as 2010 Budget - Responsibility, freedom, fairness: a five year plan to re-build the economy, was delivered by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the House of Commons in his budget speech that commenced at about 12.30 p.m on Tuesday...
. They are only hiring for roles that need to be filled.
They are however aggressively recruiting people for voluntary roles such as Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer
Police Support Volunteer is a voluntary role within the ranks of British Police Forces that involves civilian and mainly office based duties. PSV schemes became popular after the millennium when forces were expanding and needed to be more connected to the community...
and Special Constabulary
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
, making their target of recruiting 425 by 2009.
Training for new recruits in Hampshire is held at the Headquarters. For Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s it consists of eight months' training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSO
Police community support officer
A police community support officer , or community support officer is a uniformed non-warranted officer employed by a territorial police force or the British Transport Police in England and Wales. Police community support officers were introduced in September 2002 by the Police Reform Act 2002...
s it consists of 18 weeks' training and a 15-weeks probationary period. For Special Constable
Special constable
A Special Constable is a law enforcement officer who is not a regular member of a police force. Some like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the same law enforcement powers as regular members, but are employed in specific roles, such as explosive disposal technicians, court security, campus...
s it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a two-year probationary period or less, dependent on the number of tours of duty.
Recruits receive their warrant card
Warrant card
A warrant card is proof of identification and authority carried by police officers. The term is normally used only within the United Kingdom and in current and former Commonwealth countries...
and uniform in the first two months of training. Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.
Future of Hampshire Constabulary
In a report published by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in July 2011, the impact on the number of police officers and staff partly due to the reduction to Hampshire Constabulary's budget following the comprehensive spending review is as follows:| Police officers | Police staff | PCSOs | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2010 (actual) | 3,748 | 2,424 | 347 | 6,519 |
| 31 March 2015 (proposed) | 3,294 | 1,563 | 337 | 5,194 |
British Crime Survey
The British Crime SurveyBritish Crime Survey
The British Crime Survey or BCS is a systematic victim study, currently carried out by BMRB Limited on behalf of the Home Office. The BCS seeks to measure the amount of crime in England and Wales by asking around 50,000 people aged 16 and over , living in private households, about the crimes they...
for 2009/2010 found that crime had fallen in 5 out of 7 key offences in Hampshire, in one case fallen by 27% for 'Theft of a vehicle'. The other two key offences had not risen or fallen. Reported crime was slightly below national average, between -0.28 and -2.84. Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
David Pryde called these figures 'very positive for the residents of Hampshire and Isle of Wight'.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
A report from March 2010 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of ConstabularyHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland in the United Kingdom have statutory responsibility for the inspection of police forces.-England and Wales:...
marked Hampshire Constabulary as 'Fair' at 'Local crime and policing' and ' Confidence and satisfaction', and 'Good' at 'Protecting from serious harm'. They achieved good and fair marks for all aspects of policing except 'Excellent' at 'Suppressing gun crime' and 'Poor' for 'Comparative satisfaction of BME community'.
Hampshire Constabulary overall 'has a low crime rates and is a comparatively safe place to live'. The force employs slightly less officers and staff than its peer forces, and is therefore slightly cheaper to run, yet has the similar levels of confidence as its peers. Hampshire showed particular strength in 'tackling serious crime'.
Independent Police Complaints Commission
In the period of April 2010 till December 2010 complaints and allegations recorded against Hampshire Constabulary decreased from the previous year. Hampshire's overall complaints rate of 206 per 100 employees is slightly above the national average of 172.In that period Hampshire were above national average for complaints concerning 'Neglect or Failure in duty' and 'Oppressive Conduct or Harassment'.
Of the total amount of complaints received 1% were discontinued, 3% were dispensed and 5% were withdrawn. Complaints dispensed and withdrawn were both 5% lower than the national average. 11% of complaints were found to have 'substantiated finding', 4% higher than the national average.
In the media
Graham HurleyGraham Hurley
Graham Hurley is an English crime fiction writer.Based in Portsmouth, he is best-known for creating the character of DI Joe Faraday. He contributed a column to The Portsmouth News...
draws on his knowledge of the Hampshire Constabulary, in particular Portsmouth CID for his series of police procedural novels. Set in Portsmouth and revolving around the fictional Detective Inspector Joe Faraday they portray a gritty picture of the city and its crime.
Ruth Rendell
Ruth Rendell
Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE, , who also writes under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, is an English crime writer, author of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries....
's series of crime novels are set in the fictional town of Kingsmarkham. In the books the town is described as being in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, however when the books were televised, Romsey
Romsey
Romsey is a small market town in the county of Hampshire, England.It is 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles southwest of Winchester, neighbouring the village of North Baddesley...
was chosen as the setting for the location filming. Inspector Wexford is often seen wearing a Hampshire Constabulary tie and warrant card badge. Hampshire Constabulary authorised the use of the force logo and have provided props and material for the series.
Hampshire Constabulary has featured in various series of Traffic Cops
Traffic Cops
Traffic Cops is a documentary series on BBC One which follows traffic officers from various British police forces. The current series follows Bedfordshire Police. Previous series have followed Cheshire, Hampshire, Humberside, South Wales, South Yorkshire and Sussex police forces...
, an occasional BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
documentary. The programme focuses on the work of Hampshire's Roads Policing officers and highlights issues relating to road safety and reducing the number of road deaths and serious injuries. In previous series, Traffic Cops has attracted over seven million viewers.
Hampshire Constabulary was followed for a documentary following the work of the emergency services in the UK. This particular documentary was named Real Rescues
Real Rescues
Real Rescues is a British documentary exploring the daily work of the emergency services aired since 15 October 2007. The show is narrated by Nick Knowles and is broadcast on BBC One. Real Rescues is at the heart of the action with the emergency services of Hampshire including the police, fire,...
and had a total of 69 episodes over three series since October 15, 2007. Real Rescues was broadcast on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
Hampshire Constabulary was involved with Channel 4 to record three episodes, The Force
The Force (Channel 4 television series)
The Force was a series of three observational documentary programmes created for Channel 4 by Oxford Film and Television and Patrick Forbes, following the work of Hampshire Constabulary...
, following detectives at Portsmouth and Hulse Road, Southampton. This documentary focused on the more serious crimes and showed the in-depth investigation taken by the detectives. It also featured Hampshire's dedicated Rape unit.
Arson Task Force
Since 2007 the Hampshire Arson Task Force is a collaboration of resources between Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue ServiceHampshire Fire and Rescue Service
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England. The service's chief fire officer is John Bonney.-History:...
. The colloboration is the first of its kind in the UK, the force assists in investigations and provides intelligence and knowledge relevant to incidents. The team is made up of officers from both supporting organisations and a specialised dog that can detect deliberate fire starting articles such as lighter fluid.
Hampshire Horsewatch
In an effort to keep Equine Crime at low levels, Hampshire Constabulary supports a Horsewatch programme in Hampshire to maintain awareness and tackle equine crime, including theft of animals, equipment and vehicles. The force gives Equine Liaison Officer status to officers who have knowledge of equine matters and asks them to voluntarily liaise with equine community.CountryWatch
CountryWatch is continuing programme of policing operations to tackle rural crime such as theft, poachingPoaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, fly-tipping
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is a British term for dumping waste illegally instead of in an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, i.e...
and nusiance vehicles. The programme promotes reassurance and communications, particularly between rural and neighbourhood officers. Assistant Chief Constable Laura Nicholson is the ACPO lead for CountryWatch.
See also
- Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
- List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom
- Table of police forces in the United KingdomTable of police forces in the United KingdomThis table of police forces in the United Kingdom includes territorial police forces and special police forces. It does not include non-police law enforcement agencies or bodies of constables not constituted as police forces.-Table:-England and Wales:...
External links
- Official website
- Hampshire Police Authority
- Hampshire Constabulary History Society
- Weeke local history - Hampshire Police HQ
- Hampshire Marine Watch
Sources
- Watt, I. A. (1967). A history of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary 1839–1966. Winchester, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
- Lee, J., Peake, C., et al. (2001). Policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Chichester, Phillimore. ISBN 1-86077-196-3