Over the Christmas and New Year recess, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, joined a neighbourhood police team for a beat shift in Southsea as they tackled issues raised by local people.
During the shift, Mr Morgan discussed the vital work of designated Neighbourhood Officers to tackle crime and keep our city’s streets safe, with officers sharing their experiences of their crucial day to day work and the challenges they are facing.
Mr Morgan also used the opportunity to thank officers and other local police staff for their dedication to protect Portsmouth people and keep them safe.
This follows the recent announcement that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary would receive total funding of £514.1 million, up £20.5 million from the previous year, news the city MP has warmly welcomed after campaigning for fairer funding and investment in our community.
This funding will be able help local neighbourhood officers tackle pressing issues in our city, such as shoplifting, violent disorder and other crimes.
The Government has also supported police by taking dangerous weapons off our streets by banning zombie-style knives and machetes, as part of its mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.
Since the start of 2025, Portsmouth has seen 13.4% reduction in knife crime and a 14.6% reduction in most serious violence.
The Government is also putting bobbies back on the beat, with a target to put 13,000 more police in neighbourhood roles over the course of this Parliament – backed by a £200 million cash injection in the first year.
Its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every area has a named, contactable neighbourhood policing team to address local issues and concerns, and there will be guaranteed police patrols in high streets and town centres. You can find your local Neighbourhood Policing Team here.
Additionally, the Government’s Police Reform White Paper will be released early this year, setting out landmark reforms to bring policing into the modern age with the technology, innovation and structures forces need to fight crime and protect communities.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“It was a pleasure to join local police officers to observe first-hand the challenges of their work on the frontline. I thank them for their tireless efforts on the issues I saw from their work in tackling shoplifting, disorder in our public spaces to support to vulnerable members of our community.
“This Government is delivering the support that local police forces have long needed to crack down on anti-social behaviour and crime, take back our streets and make people in Portsmouth feel safe.”
“I am reassured by the recent funding boost for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, which will help to keep Portsmouth’s streets safe”.
Mr Morgan has long campaigned for safer streets and more bobbies back on the beat, recently giving his support to the successful Operation Sceptre.
