Extra officers have been recruited to strengthen police visibility in rural areas of Hampshire.

They will soon be based in rural communities in Alton, Liss, Winchester, Basingstoke, Hart, the New Forest and on the Isle of Wight.

Police and crime commissioner Donna Jones has expanded her Local Bobby scheme from 99 officers to 114.

The extra ones will boost police visibility in rural communities, which often feel overlooked when comparing their policing to that in urban areas.

The commissioner launched the Local Bobby scheme on January 17, 2024, a year before the government adopted the model as a national standard for all police forces in England and Wales.

In that time, Local Bobbies have been central to solving issues around anti-social behaviour and reoccurring criminal activity.

Former policing minister Dame Diana Johnson praised Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for the move, describing the force as “trailblazers” for leading the return to visible, community-based policing.

The Local Bobby scheme ensures every Hampshire and Isle of Wight community has a named and contactable local police officer. Donna Jones wants to grow it further in 2026.

She said: “Residents in rural communities have been clear with me. They want to see their police officers and contact them easily, just like people in towns and city centres.

“The Local Bobby model works, which is why I’m bringing that same visible, local presence to rural communities that have felt forgotten.

“The extra Local Bobbies will soon be in place across the countryside on the Isle of Wight and in the New Forest, and in the rural areas around Winchester, Alton, Basingstoke, Hart and Liss.

“I want to make sure everyone in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight knows who their Local Bobby is. Please go online and enter your postcode to find out how to get in touch with them.”