A 4.4 per cent increase in what we pay for the police, on top of our council tax, has got the green light from the Police and Crime Panel.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner says she has support to raise the policing precept by 19p per week (based on band D properties), from April.

Donna Jones says it will pay for policing and prevent crime.

The move has been welcomed by Hampshire Constabulary's Chief Constable.

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The increase of £10 per year (based on Band D properties) will raise an additional £7million for Hampshire Constabulary in 2022/23.

Across the two counties, it will be spent on recruiting nearly 200 police officers, improving the call handling time for the 101 non-emergency number, on services for young people and also on providing additional investment for crime prevention.

Donna Jones said: "The additional funding will support the delivery of the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan More Police, Safer Streets."

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "There is a compelling operational case for an increase.

"It isn't something I take lightly and I would like to thank the public and the Police and Crime Panel for the support they have shown."

"Increasing police officer numbers benefits neighbourhood teams, response and patrol teams, roads policing and our investigations.

"It also better supports specialist areas, such as safeguarding and victim care.

"We are further growing our rural policing teams.

"None of this would be achievable without the support we have seen from the public across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight."

Isle of Wight County Press: PCC Donna Jones (left) and Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney.PCC Donna Jones (left) and Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney.

Hampshire Constabulary's number of arrests have soared - 2,000 more since April 2021, compared with the previous year.

Violence had caused injury in 714 of those arrests, though the force did not reveal how many of those incidents were on the Isle of Wight.

Meanwhile, we are also told to expect a two per cent rise in our main council tax bills, for 2022/23.

On top of that and the police precept, you will also pay a fire service precept and a possible extra charge for your town or parish council.