Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents were given the chance to put their questions directly to senior policing figures during a live-streamed online event hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones.
The session, known as COPS (Commissioner’s Oversight of Policing Services), took place on Thursday 22 May 2025 and featured Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya. The hour-long broadcast aired live from 6pm to 7pm across three Facebook pages – the PCC’s, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Local issues took centre stage, with residents submitting more than 120 questions in advance and over 130 people joining the session live. Hot topics included police visibility, local Bobbies, anti-social behaviour, road safety, rural and retail crime, as well as emerging concerns such as cybercrime, e-scooter enforcement, and prison overcrowding.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“COPS is a fantastic way of directly engaging with communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to provide answers and reassurance on the crimes and concerns that matter most to people. My number one priority is to ensure effective, local and visible policing that keeps our communities safe.”
For those who missed it, a full recording of the session is available to watch online, with timestamped chapters to help viewers jump straight to their topics of interest:
- Police Visibility (Patrols): 05:20
- Police Stations & Counters: 08:30 & 49:00
- Road Safety: 10:50 & 50:38
- Local Bobbies: 23:25 & 1:01:27
- Rural Crime: 26:15
- Anti-Social Behaviour: 29:40 & 59:11
- Cybercrime: 34:20
- Retail Crime: 35:56
- Serious Violence: 42:22
- Domestic Abuse & Exploitation: 51:32
- Police Recruitment: 54:22
- Prison Overcrowding & Sentencing: 1:03:18
To watch the full event or find out who your Local Bobby is, visit the PCC’s website: COPS Meetings – Hampshire PCC
The next session is already in planning, promising another opportunity for residents to speak up and be heard.