Donna Jones returned for second term as PCC
Police and crime commissioner pledges to recruit more officers
THE police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been reelected following last week’s elections.
The Conservative candidate Donna Jones, who was first elected to the role in 2021, won with a total of 175,953 votes.
Becky Williams, of the Labour and Co-operative Party, came second with 106,141 votes, Liberal Democrat Prad Bains came third with 92,843 and Don Jerrard of The Justice & Anti-Corruption Party came last with 40,691. Turnout for the election was 28.38 per cent.
Following the announcement of the election results, Ms Jones said: “I’m extremely honoured to be reelected.
“I am determined to recruit more police officers, to make sure that everyone who reports a crime gets feedback and that there is a comprehensive crackdown on shoplifting.
“I will carry on making sure that 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.”
During her first tenure as police and crime commissioner, Ms Jones delivered on a range of policing priorities including the launch of local bobbies with named and contactable police officers for every community across the two counties.
Other accomplishments include recruiting 650 more police officers, securing funding to reopen 10 more police stations and front counters, fixing the 101 call service with call waiting times now under four minutes, introducing a new victims hub, and commissioning more than £11m of victim and perpetrator support programmes to help make communities safer.
Ms Jones’ pledges for her second term as PCC include 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.
The PCC’s professional background is in banking, and she was leader of Portsmouth City Council from 2014 to 2018.
She also served as a magistrate for 16 years.
She is one of the four national police leaders working directly with the Home Office following her appointment in July 2023 as chair of the National Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
Ms Jones also sits on the National Policing Board, which is chaired by the Home Secretary,cochairs the National Policing Strategic Partnership Board, and works with the Probation Service, prisons and the CPS.
I will carry on making sure that 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