Commissioner Simon Hayes.
THE Isle of Wight will soon have its own assistant police and crime commissioner, based at Newport Police Station.
Commissioner Simon Hayes said an appointment was imminent following the first meeting of the new Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, held on the Isle of Wight.
He added: "My assistant will link with the community, collecting local information about policing need and passing it to me, and attending meetings and telling the community what police are doing."
The draft of the first police and crime plan he has produced was launched at the meeting. It puts the focus on fighting crime through partnerships between police, agencies, the public and voluntary organisations, crime prevention and reducing reoffending.
The plan also aims to get more officers on the beat, cut total crime by 12 per cent in three years, increase rural crime detection and reduce public complaints of staff rudeness.
Mr Hayes told the meeting: "The police and crime plan works toward a more preventive approach. Crime is often a symptom of embedded social malaise."
In charge of delivering it will be chief constable Andy Marsh, who repeated his commitment to the Island retaining its own superintendent at the head of the local force.
The chief constable patrolled with Island officers on Tuesday and met staff and senior Island officials.
Mr Hayes said: "In pure population terms, the Isle of Wight does not warrant having a superintendent but the community does. It is unique in policing, not least in its festivals and population increase during the summer."
The panel meeting, chaired by Isle of Wight councillor Dave Stewart, a retired policeman, scrutinised the work of Mr Hayes in his first 100 days of office.
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk