Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
South East · Territorial force · 3,500 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,500
Staff
1,800
Area (sq miles)
1,542
Population served
2,050,000
About Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
Covering Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Offers varied policing from naval ports to the New Forest, with a collaborative approach to specialist services.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary serves a diverse geographic area that includes urban centers like Southampton and Portsmouth, alongside the more rural expanses of the New Forest and the Isle of Wight. This territorial force operates in a landscape rich with operational quirks; it shares borders with several neighboring police forces and encompasses naval ports and significant transport corridors, including access to ferry services linking the mainland with the Isle of Wight. The constabulary has unique access to specialist skills due to these characteristics, making it well-suited to address a range of local issues.
Specialist units include an armed response team, a marine unit for coastal policing, and a dedicated team for tackling rural crime, which allows effective coverage of the scenic yet at times vulnerable countryside. Additionally, the force emphasizes collaboration with partner agencies to enhance its operational delivery, particularly in community safety and crime prevention.
In recent public interest efforts, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has focused on reducing crime rates and enhancing community engagement. Their strategic priorities underscore the commitment to tackling serious and organized crime, protecting vulnerable people, and enhancing road safety in the region. This proactive approach, alongside a dedication to community-focused police work, offers a dynamic environment for new applicants or transferring officers looking to make a meaningful impact in their policing careers.
Current priorities
- Reducing crime and offending
- Protecting vulnerable people
- Enhancing road safety
- Addressing serious and organized crime
- Promoting community engagement
Notable specialisms
Source: About Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,500
Staff
1,800
Total headcount
5,300
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
good
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is named in 7 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
IOPC statement on Henry Nowak investigation
2026-06-03 · IOPC
Statement regarding our investigation into contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Henry Nowak
2026-06-02 · IOPC
Met officer cleared over David Carrick conduct investigation
2026-03-20 · IOPC
Former Hampshire Chief Constable to face gross misconduct hearing following investigation into workplace relationships
2026-01-12 · IOPC
IOPC statement regarding investigation into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chief Constable Scott Chilton
2025-04-07 · IOPC
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Engagement & social channels
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 1,456 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 100% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| (not recorded) | 1,451 |
| Firearms | 5 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 878 |
| Arrest | 277 |
| Community resolution | 256 |
| Summons / charged by post | 33 |
| (not recorded) | 12 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
15,686 crimes recorded by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 5,830 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,485 |
| Shoplifting | 1,456 |
| Public order | 1,442 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,179 |
| Other theft | 988 |
| Vehicle crime | 568 |
| Drugs | 528 |
| Burglary | 426 |
| Other crime | 249 |
| Possession of weapons | 168 |
| Robbery | 145 |
| Bicycle theft | 134 |
| Theft from the person | 88 |
| Total | 15,686 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
South East Allowance
Up to £2,000 / year
Force-discretionary South East allowance, set by the chief constable up to the statutory maximum, to help offset higher living costs in the South East.
Recruitment
How to join Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.