he principles of policing are based within society and not imposed from above.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes was quoting Sir Robert Peel, creator of the Metropolitan Police, when he gave Romsey & District Society’s annual lecture.

The Lecture, given at the Town Hall, entitled “Democratic Policing” covered the responsibilities of a police commissioner and gave wide-ranging account of the issues currently facing the service.

Commissioners were introduced by Parliament in 2011 and their tasks include appointing a chief constable, setting a budget and producing a police and crime plan. Commissioners have no operational duties.

Mr Hayes’ first task was to appoint a chief constable. Following wide consultation he appointed Andy Marsh with whom he works closely to achieve policing goals.

The Police and Crime Plan was produced by March 2013 and it has four main points. These are to improve frontline policing, to place victims and witnesses at the heart of the system, to work with other sections of society and to reduce re-offending.

Frontline policing means giving value for money and this is being done by collaborating with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire Service to merge back office services and reduce cost. Among other things, more emphasis can then be placed on rural policing. In future, operational policing with neighbouring forces is envisaged.

Court cases sometimes collapse through lack of consideration of the needs of victims and witnesses and Mr Hayes sees a need for improvement in this respect.

There are currently 85,000 people in prison, compared to 45,000 in 1993, so reducing re-offending is important. One very effective way to tackle the issue is restorative justice, where young people are confronted with the grief that their actions have caused the victim.

Budget restrictions have affected the police, 456 police officer posts having already been cut, in spite of the fact that Hampshire Constabulary is efficiently run, being the sixth cheapest force in the country, said the commissioner.

Efficiency has also been increased by selling expensive and unused buildings, relocating officers and making best use of modern technology.

Future budget cuts may make it necessary for the police to concentrate on emergency response, vulnerable people and serious crime, but, ultimately, the public must decide what it wants from its police force, said Mr Hayes He concluded the lecture by showing a video of a brutal attack on a female police officer. At the time of the attack she was wearing a body camera. It was this video footage that helped secure the conviction of the attacker who might otherwise have been found not guilty.