Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely welcomed confirmation that Hampshire Constabulary has been renamed Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Mr Seely said of the name change: “I am delighted the Island is being recognised as part of a shared police force. Both Donna and I have campaigned for the name change. I am glad she has delivered.
“Clearly policing is about keeping communities safe. That’s a priority, not a name-change. However, it’s good to get recognition that the police serve people in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.”
Mr Seely’s statement was in response to Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones’ confirmation that her request to change Hampshire Constabulary’s name to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has been approved.
At a ceremony held at Newport Police Station, Ms Jones and a collection of involved officials revealed the Constabulary’s new logo.
Prior to this, the name change had received legislative confirmation, with the Police Act 1996 amended to replace references to “Hampshire” with the inclusive term “Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.” The amendment was made by the Home Secretary and approved by parliament on 12th July 2022.
Today’s ceremony marks the first time the Island has been recognised in the Constabulary’s title for 55-years. Despite the Isle of Wight receiving ceremonial county status in 1974, the Island’s police force has worked under the ‘Hampshire Constabulary’ title since 1967.
The name change is the culmination of Ms Jones’ campaign to recognise the Island in Hampshire Constabulary’s name: Immediately after her election, Ms Jones, who had previously served as a Magistrate in Hampshire for 15-years and lead the Portsmouth City Council between 2014 and 2018, conducted a consultation on the potential for a name change; 82-per cent of respondents were supportive.
At the time, Ms Jones said that “Before being elected I campaigned across the two counties for over a year, and I received strong feedback from residents on the Isle of Wight that they would like the name of the second county included in the name of the police force that serves the mainland and the Island.”
The consultation was followed by an official submission to the Home Secretary, requesting the name change. This application was supported by Mr Seely.
Crime and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse confirmed the name change in a June 2022 letter to Mr Seely.
Despite the logo's unveiling, changes to Police uniform and equipment will be phased in over time, in order to save unnecessary public expenditure.
