Commissioner Hayes meets Havant's safety partners...

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes spent a day in Havant and Waterlooville yesterday, Monday, February 4th as part of his drive to engage with the wider communities of Hampshire and Isle of wight.

The morning was spent meeting police officers and staff discussing a variety of topics. These centred on partnership working, PCSO's , dealing with Domestic Violence and looking at further areas of work around this particular subject.                           

Next stop was a tour around the recently developed Public Service Plaza with Sandy Hopkins, Chief Executive of Havant and East Hants Councils, and leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Tony Briggs.

Councillor Michael Cheshire, the Safer Havant Chair provided the Commissioner with a briefing on the partnership which included demographics, priority areas, current areas of work and identified risks.

Mr Hayes then received a presentation outlining how Hayling Island had seen a decrease in reported incidents during 2012 resulting in 846 fewer victims of crime than in 2011. Notable areas of success included reductions in criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Hayes also heard how a community alcohol project had seen a decrease in the number of those aged under 18 drinking alcohol in a public place. This coincided with a drop of more than 40% in recorded anti-social behaviour across the Island.

A number of other police and partner initiatives had proven equally successful and it was believed the learning from Hayling Island could lead to some of these initiatives being rolled out across areas of the two counties of Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Mr Hayes met other representatives in an open session for an exchange of views on partnership working. The future priorities identified by the partnership are similar to those of Mr Hayes, which it is hoped will lead to future joint working between the partnership and the Commissioner.

Mr Hayes said following his visit: "Today was enlightening and highlighted the value of partnership working. I was also encouraged to find that we share similar priorities. By continuing to work together in partnership, I feel confident we shall see further reductions in those crimes that most adversely affect our communities."

Councillor Michael Cheshire added: "In Havant we are rightly proud of the excellent partnership work undertaken to tackle Crime and Anti Social Behaviour under the banner of the Safer Havant Partnership. It was therefore a real pleasure for me to welcome Simon Hayes to a partnership meeting and to share with him some of the ground breaking and innovative work being undertaken in the Havant Borough. Overall a very productive meeting during which the partnership members appreciated Simon's candour and willingness to engage on the key issues of concern. We look forward to working together in future to improve the quality of lives for Havant residents and to promote the many opportunities that the area offers to people and businesses alike.