The Hampshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) is inviting residents to give their views on whether work by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has helped reduce and prevent rural crime across the two counties.

In October 2014, the PCP produced its first scrutiny report which focused on rural crime, and considered the actions of the then PCC in his aim to reduce the gap in solved crime rates between rural and non-rural areas. Through this report, the PCP found that more could be done to help inform and empower local communities to protect themselves, to raise confidence in rural community policing and to improve a partnership approach to rural crime.

The PCP’s report highlighted how visible community policing and communications could alleviate the disproportionate fear of crime within rural communities.

The PCC has recently highlighted rural crime as a key public interest, scheduling a number of public conferences titled ‘Rural Communities Matter’ to hear public views and help contribute towards the setting of priorities for a new rural crime strategy for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

On 7 April 2017, the PCP will be holding a proactive scrutiny session open to the public, to review whether the approach taken to reduce and prevent rural crime within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is making communities safer. Recommendations will then be made to the PCC to support him in his intention to keep rural communities safe and secure.

Ahead of the meeting, members of the public and partner organisations are asked to provide their feedback on a number of key questions:

1. How effective do you feel the PCC and his office have been in encouraging partners to work together and share information, where possible, to help prevent rural crime? Can you identify any opportunities for further partnership working in the future?

2. How well has the PCC communicated with local residents to help alleviate concerns relating to rural crime and encourage local communities to take measures to protect themselves against rural crime? Can you give examples of how the PCC might enhance this communication?

3. How effective do you feel the current policing response is to rural crime? What feedback would you give to the PCC to which would enable him to support any improvements to this approach at a strategic level?

4. What are your key concerns in relation to rural crime?

5. What actions do you think should be a priority within the the PCC’s new Rural Crime Strategy for Hampshire and the IOW?

6. Is there anything further that you can provide to the Panel that will assist them with their proactive scrutiny of this topic?

The deadline for feedback is Sunday 19 March 2017.

Responses can be sent via email, to [email protected] or posted to:

Democratic and Member Services
Hampshire County Council 
Corporate Services (Room 102) 
Elizabeth II Court South 
The Castle 
Winchester 
Hampshire 
SO23 8UJ