Hampshire Crime Down On Pre-Pandemic Levels

Overall crime in Hampshire is down on pre-pandemic levels, which is a “massive credit” to Hampshire Police officers, the Federation has said.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that, although robberies recorded by Hampshire Constabulary in the year to March 2023 were 5% up on the previous year, they were down on pre-pandemic levels.

Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoë Wakefield said: “Our colleagues deserve a massive credit for this. I think Hampshire Constabulary is very hot on crime recording, so I’d suggest that our stats are accurate because we do record everything.

“We are struggling resource-wise, but officers are still out there doing the best job they can – they are still doing their best to lock up the bad people, the ones that are making people’s lives a misery, and keep everyone else safe.

“The fact that overall crime is down on pre-pandemic levels is a really good sign. Maybe it’s a small sign that all the new officers coming in are making a difference.

“Police numbers matter – a visible police presence on the street can be as much of a deterrent as other crime-reduction methods.”