Extra Police On The Streets This Weekend

There'll be more police officers than usual across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight this weekend to reassure communities and prevent any trouble.

Chief Superintendent David Peacock is leading Hampshire's response to the civil unrest across the country.
 
He said:

“There is absolutely nothing to suggest that there will be any riots in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight.
 
“Nevertheless we will be putting extra police officers on our streets round the clock for the next few days to reassure the public and deter any trouble.
 
“I have a very clear message to anybody who has any intention of causing any disorder.
 
“Don’t bother.
 
“We are very prepared for anybody who thinks that it’s acceptable to commit violent acts to the detriment of everybody else.
 
“Put simply, this behaviour will not be tolerated and I have made it very clear to all officers and staff working this weekend that they are to take robust action to stamp out any trouble.
 
“Everyone hopes that the scenes of civil unrest we’ve seen across the country have been a temporary departure to the tolerant and reasonable society in which we live and I am absolutely committed that those hell-bent on ruining other people’s lives pay the full price for doing so.”
 
Hampshire police will continue helping out the Metropolitan Police in London this weekend.
 
They say that locally it's business as usual.
 
Ch Supt Peacock continued: 

“There are several events planned for the weekend including a football match in Portsmouth, the Boomtown Festival near Winchester and, of course, the end of Cowes Week and are firmly committed to policing them.
 
“We are recalling to duty our neighbourhoods, response, roads policing and custody officers from their rest days but we are not cancelling annual leave.
 
“Everyone in the constabulary at every level is investing an enormous amount of effort into putting our communities first in a way that those responsible for disorder don’t
 
“I am determined that as a result our communities will not have to live in fear and can continue with their lives as normal."
 
For the latest updates, follow @HantsPolice on Twitter - they're very good!