GETTING more police on the streets and more knives off them are among the priorities promised by Donna Jones, the re-elected police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The conservative, first elected to the role in 2021, won with a massive 175,953 votes last night (Friday) following the PCC elections.

Her nearest challenger was the Labour Party's Becky Williams, with 106,141 votes.

Read more: Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner vote count LIVE blog

During her first tenure as commissioner, Donna delivered on a range of policing priorities, which included the launch of the Local Bobbies scheme, with named and contactable police officers for every community across the two counties.

Other accomplishments included the following: 

  • Recruitment of 650 more police officers
  • Funding to reopen ten more police stations, including Cowes, and front counters
  • Fixing the 101 call service, with call waiting times now under four minutes
  • The introduction of a new Victims Hub
  • Commissioning more than £11 million of victim and perpetrator support programmes to help make communities safer.

As commissioner, Donna represents more than 250,000 businesses and is also on the board of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

She is one of the four national police leaders working directly with the Home Office following her appointment in July last year, as chair of the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.

Donna also sits on the National Policing Board, chaired by the Home Secretary, James Cleverley, co-chairs the national Strategic Policing Partnership Board and works with the Probation Service, prisons and the CPS.

Speaking after the election announcement, Donna said: “I’m extremely honoured to be re-elected. The hard work continues.

"I am determined to recruit more police officers, to make sure everyone who reports a crime gets feedback and that there is a comprehensive crackdown on shoplifting.

"I will carry on making sure communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are safer, by making increased police visibility a priority, by taking more knives off the streets and providing focused support for victims.

“I will continue to listen to residents, families, businesses and neighbourhoods throughout the two counties and I will act quickly and efficiently, working with the Chief Constable, because the public rightly deserve robust policing and swift justice.

"These are huge responsibilities and I’m looking forward to getting back to delivering for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Donna’s pledges for her second term include the recruitment of 75 more police officers over the next 12 months, opening more police stations and front counters, cracking down on shoplifting and retail crime, delivering a rural crime taskforce, investing in making roads safer, reducing serious violence and ensuring people reporting a crime get feedback.

Commissioners are elected by the public to hold their local police force and Chief Constable to account. 

Donna will take the oath of office again on Wednesday, May 8.