Hampshire Constabulary

Senior Management Team

The senior team, each of whom is a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers, is as follows:

The force is overseen by an elected Police and Crime Commissioner(PCC) on non-operational matters (i.e. budget and priorities). This is currently Conservative Michael Lane.

History

The first fully constituted police force formed in Hampshire was the Winchester City Police, founded in 1832. The Hampshire County Constabulary was established seven years later in December 1839 as a result of the passing of the County Police Act that year. Initially the force had a chief constable and two superintendents one of whom was based in Winchester, and the second based on the Isle of Wight which the Hampshire force then incorporated. The first separate police force on the island was formed in 1837 when the Newport Borough Police was established. but the separate Isle of Wight Constabulary was not formed until 1890 when the island was the granted administrative county status.

During the 19th century, Hampshire County Constabulary absorbed various borough forces including Basingstoke Borough Police (1836–1889), Romsey Borough Police (1836–1865), Lymington Borough Police (1836–1852) and Andover Borough Police (1836–1846).

In 1914 the Special Constabulary started to perform regular duties 'for the continuous preservation of order during the war'.Prior to this Special Constables were called up only for specific disturbances (e.g. riots, bonfire nights).

In 1943, during the Second World War, as a result of the passing into law of the Defence (Amalgamation of Police Forces) Regulations 1942, Hampshire County Constabulary amalgamated with the Isle of Wight and Winchester City Police forces to form the Hampshire Joint Police Force. The two city forces, Southampton City Police and Portsmouth City Police, remained independent. Although this arrangement was originally intended only as a wartime measure it continued after hostilities ended and in 1948 the merger was regularised and made permanent and Hampshire Joint Police Force was renamed Hampshire Constabulary.

The name was changed once again in 1957, to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. In 1967 Hampshire, and the city forces (Southampton and Portsmouth) were amalgamated, as a result of the reforming Police Act 1964, and became the current Hampshire Constabulary. In 1974, the Local Government Act lead to a number of local government boundary changes and saw responsibility for the policing of Christchurch moved to the control of Dorset Police. With the exception of some minor boundary changes since, the force area has remained the unchanged.

The names of forces that have policed the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since the nineteenth century are illustrated below:

In 1965, the force had an establishment of 1,346 and an actual strength of 1,137.

Previous Chief Constables

Significant events

Organisation

In 2012 the Constabulary merged its six territorially based, local policing divisions known as Operational Command Units (OCUs) into three areas, each made up of a number of districts.These three areas were then merged into one in 2016. In 2012 there was a reduction in the number of stations maintaining public enquiry offices and more limited opening hours were introduced. Stations retaining a public enquiry office are marked thus: † A number of police stations closed in the period 2012-2016.

Commands

The Constabulary has four Command sections: Investigation Command; Intelligence, Tasking and Development; Prevention and Neighbourhoods, and Response and Patrol.

Roads Policing Unit

The Roads Policing Unit patrol some 220 miles of motorway and trunk roads in the two counties. This is made up of large sections of the M3, all of the M27, the M271 & the M275 together with parts of the A3, A27, A31, A34 and A303.

In addition to providing an emergency response to incidents on the road its work is directed towards reducing casualties and offending and in particular at disrupting the activities of travelling criminals.

The unit operates from 3 bases;- Havant (near the M27 and M275), Totton (near the M271 and M27) and Whitchurch (near the M3 & A34).

As part of the programme of sharing resources (and thereby reducing costs) agreed between the two forces in late 2010, Hampshire's Roads Policing Unit commenced joint operations with Thames Valley Police's RPU in January 2012. The combined unit is overseen by the Joint Operations Unit.

Dog & Search Support Unit

Hampshire Constabulary acquired its first two dogs in 1959. The force now has a variety of dogs in use across the two counties, working 24-hours a day. The Unit, based at the Support headquarters at Netley, near Southampton, is headed by an Inspector, two Sergeants, twenty-six Constables and several civilian staff. Dogs are trained in a variety of skills including passive drug searching, searches for firearms, explosives, ammunition, and currency. The dogs are also trained to locate people in a variety of situations. For example, they are able to find people who are trapped in collapsed buildings.

Tactical Firearms Support Unit

Hampshire's Firearms Support Unit provides suitably trained and equipped officers to respond to incidents involving the criminal use of firearms through its armed response vehicles and tactical teams. It has a permanent staff of instructors, administrators and the Force Armourer, who is responsible for the safe storage, maintenance and record keeping for each of the force's firearms.

The force's first full-time, permanent firearms unit is to be launched in 2013. This will be the first of its kind in the UK.

Marine Unit

The Marine Unit provides a specialist resource to the force and a policing presence along the 253 miles of navigable coastline of the two counties. In addition, the unit is responsible for the investigation of marine incidents and supporting the work of the UK Border Agency, HM Coastguard and the harbour authorities. The unit comprises a Sergeant and twelve Constables and has two tactical rigid inflatables, two semi-displacement patrol launches and various land-based patrol vehicles. The ribs and launches are:

Other Departments

In addition to the above the Operations OCU also incorporates the Planning and Policy Unit and the Critical Incident Cadre - designed to provide tactical support in the event of any major incident within the force area.

Crime OCU

The Crime OCU is made up of a number of specialist CID units including the force Intelligence Directorate, Scientific Services, Special Branch and both the Serious Organised Crime and Major Crime departments. In addition to their specialist roles these departments support territorially deployed CID officers of the South Eastern CID Department, South Western CID Department & Northern & Central CID Department

Joint Operations Unit

The unit, currently based in Hampshire (headed by a chief superintendent but overseen by the Joint ACC John Campbell) was established to manage the agreement put in place between Hampshire and Thames Valley Police in November 2010 intended to share common resources and thereby reduce costs. The agreement (under the provisions of s. 23 Police Act 1996) allows the forces to operate joint units and is initially aimed at a merging of Roads Policing Units, Firearms and Dog Units, and Training departments. The IT departments of the two forces formally merged in February 2011.

The Roads Policing Units of the forces merged at the end of January 2012 and the remaining mergers will be completed with the final amalgamation, of the firearms units, following the 2012 Olympics.

Hampshire Horsewatch

In an effort to maintain equine-oriented crime at low levels, the force supports a Horsewatch programme (started 1992) to raise awareness of crime, including the theft of animals, equipment and vehicles. The force's Equine Liaison Officers who liaise with the equine community perform their duties voluntarily.

CountryWatch

CountryWatch is continuing programme of policing operations with the objective of tackling crime in the rural communitiese such as theft, poaching, fly-tipping and the use of nuisance vehicles. The programme promotes reassurance and communication, particularly between rural and neighbourhood officers. ACC Laura Nicholson is the national ACPO-lead, for CountryWatch.

Headgear

Male constables and sergeants of Hampshire Constabulary wear the traditional comb-style custodian helmet when on foot patrol. However, Hampshire is one of only three other UK forces that does not use the common Brunswick star style force badge, favouring instead a large metal plate that mirrors the county crest, depicting a laurel wreath enclosing a crowned rose above a banner that reads 'Hampshire'.

The helmets worn by constables have larger helmet plates of uncoloured white metal whilst those worn by sergeants have slightly smaller helmet plates that includes blue and red enamelled detail on the crown, rose and county title. The helmet plate worn by constables is the largest of all those worn by forces in England and Wales and ensures that they stand out in the company of officers from other areas.

Officers wear a peaked cap with black and white chequered hat band when on mobile patrol in vehicles whilst Roads Policing Unit (RPU) officers wear a similar cap with a white top. Female officers wear a bowler hat (with black and white chequered hat band), or a similar bowler hat for female RPU officers but with a white top. PCSO's wear peaked caps with a blue hat band. Each of these caps have smaller versions of the helmet plate.

Officers holding the rank of Inspector or above wear peaked caps.

Uniform

When on duty officers wear a black, wicking T-shirt with the word 'Police' on the sleeves, and black uniform trousers. Hampshire officers no longer use the traditional police jumper, having favoured a black fleece with 'Police' written on the chest and back. Hampshire officers do not have Brunswick stars on their epaulettes, just the rank and collar number. PCSOs wear a similar uniform, however instead of a black, wicking shirt they wear blue wicking shirts.

Formal dress comprises an open-necked tunic, with white shirt and black tie for both male and female officers. Constables and Sergeants wear custodian helmet's and collar numbers on their epaulettes, officers above these ranks wear peaked caps, name badges and their rank on their epaulettes. The No.1 uniform is accompanied by black boots or shoes and occasionally black gloves, or brown gloves for the rank of Inspector and above.

Hampshire Constabulary also list leggings as part an optional piece of uniform.

Personal Equipment

Hampshire Constabulary officers are required to wear a stab vest whilst on patrol. Hampshire officers generally wear black stab vests, although some officers wear fluorescent yellow stab vests for activities such as cycling. In addition, officers carry TETRA digital radios, HTC PDAs, rigid handcuffs, CS incapacitant gas, the ASP 21" collapsible baton, leg restraints, a resuscitation mask and a basic first aid kit. *Watt, I. A. (1967). A history of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary 1839–1966. Winchester, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. PCSO's do not carry ASPs, handcuffs, leg restraints or incapacitant spray. Should the need arise, some officers can use body-mounted cameras. Police vehicles may contain a variety of equipment, which can include Arnold batons, traffic cones, road signs, breathalyzers, stingers, speed guns and the like.

Vehicles and livery

Hampshire Constabulary uses a selection of vehicles for their individual capabilities and the requirements of the roles for which they are employed.

Hampshire Constabulary currently use the standard yellow and blue retro-reflective Battenberg markings, together with the force crest on the bonnet, on all marked, operational vehicles.

For many years until 2005, the force had used a distinctive vehicle paint scheme of retro-reflective red and white diagonal stripes above a retro-reflective chequered blue and white band.

Strength and recruitment

Hampshire Constabulary employs over 6,000 people and has over 425 volunteers. Approximately one third of this total are frontline staff and officers.

Training for new recruits in Hampshire is conducted at the support headquarters at Netley. For Constables it consists of 15 weeks training and a two-year probationary period. For PCSOs it consists of 6 weeks training and a 1-year probationary period. For Special Constables it consists of 7 months of training during weeknights and weekends, and a two-year probationary period or less, dependent on the number of tours of duty.

Recruits receive their warrant card and uniform in the first two months of training. Once the training period is over, the new officers are posted in a local division.

Future of Hampshire Constabulary

In a report published by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in July 2011, the impact on the number of police officers and staff partly due to the reduction to Hampshire Constabulary's budget following the comprehensive spending review is as follows:

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary

A report from March 2010 by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary marked Hampshire Constabulary as 'Fair' at 'Local crime and policing' and ' Confidence and satisfaction', and 'Good' at 'Protecting from serious harm'. They achieved good and fair marks for all aspects of policing except 'Excellent' at 'Suppressing gun crime' and 'Poor' for 'Comparative satisfaction of BME community'.

In November 2014 a HMIC report on crime recording found Hampshire Constabulary failed to record, as crime, 40% of incidents, one of the three worst force performances in the country.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

The Professional Standards department of the force investigate the majority of complaints made against police. However, details of complaints received are notified to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is a non-departmental public body responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces throughout England and Wales. The IPCC may chose to manage or supervise investigations conducted into complaints and may conduct the investigations themselves in the most serious cases. The Commission sets the standards of the investigation of complaints against police and also acts as the appeals body in cases where members of the public are dissatisfied with the way in which a police force has handled their complaint.

In the period April 2011 to December 2011 complaints and allegations made against officers of Hampshire Constabulary had decreased from the previous year (previous years figures in brackets). Hampshire's overall complaints rate of 181 (206) per 1000 employees is slightly above the national average of 172 (159) per 1000 employees. In that period Hampshire were above national average for complaints concerning 'Neglect or Failure in duty' and 'Oppressive Conduct or Harassment'. Of all complaints received during the period 0% (1%) were discontinued - national average 1% - some 5% (3%) were dispensed - national average 7% - and 6% (5%) were withdrawn - national average 10%). Of the total, 13% (11%) of complaints were found to have 'substantiated finding', 3% lower than the national average.

Stonewall Workplace Equality Index

The Stonewall Workplace Equality Index is an annual index of UK employers completed by the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) rights charity Stonewall. Through their submissions to Stonewall, Hampshire Constabulary were consistently high performers on the index from 2006-2013, scoring no lower than 15th place overall. In 2009 and 2010 the Constabulary were 2nd place in Top Employer category. In 2017 the Constabulary were still in the top 100 at 65th (Leicestershire was the top police employer).

In the media

The crime fiction writer Graham Hurley draws on his knowledge of Hampshire Constabulary, and in particular Portsmouth CID, for his series of police procedural novels. Set in Portsmouth and revolving around the fictional Detective Inspector Joe Faraday they portray a gritty picture of the city and its crime.

Ruth Rendell's series of crime novels are set in the fictional town of Kingsmarkham. In the books the town is described as being in Sussex, however when the books were televised, Romsey was chosen as the setting for the location filming. Inspector Wexford is often seen wearing a Hampshire Constabulary tie and warrant card badge. Hampshire Constabulary authorised the use of the force logo and have provided props and material for the series.

Hampshire Constabulary has featured in various series of Traffic Cops, an occasional BBC One documentary. The programme focuses on the work of Hampshire's Roads Policing officers and highlights issues relating to road safety and reducing the number of road deaths and serious injuries.

The day-to-day work of Hampshire Constabulary featured in some 69 episodes, spanning three series, of the popular BBC 1 observational documentary, Real Rescues. This series first aired on BBC 1 in October 2007

The three-part, Channel 4 documentary, The Force followed the work of Hampshire detectives during the investigation of three serious crimes in the county. The first episode followed the progress of an enquiry into the murder of a woman whose body had been found in a field near Basingstoke whilst the second revealed the work of Hampshire's dedicated rape unit during a live investigation in Portsmouth. The last programme featured a re-investigation of the arson of a block of flats in Portsmouth as a result of which a young man died.