Hampshire Constabulary

Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in South East England.

The force area includes the historic city of Winchester, and the largest city in South East England of Southampton and the naval city of Portsmouth. The force also covers the New Forest National Park, sections of the South Downs National Park, and large towns such as Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Andover, Fareham and Aldershot. The constabulary, as it is currently constituted, dates from 1967 but modern policing in Hampshire can be traced back to 1832.

Police headquarters occupy a tall, post-war office building located on West Hill, Winchester which is visible from most approaches to the city, and sits on the site of the first county headquarters, built in 1847. The force's central administration is based here together with the Chief Constable and staff officers.

Plans have been announced for most headquarters-based departments to be relocated to the Support Headquarters at Netley, Southampton. It is intended that the senior management team will, in turn, move to Mottisfont Court, Winchester and the current headquarters building will be sold by 2014. As a result of budget cuts plans to construct a new headquarters and command complex on the northern outskirts of Southampton have been shelved.

The need to reduce costs has seen the formation of a Joint Operations Unit with Thames Valley Police which, during the course of 2012, will see the amalgamation of Roads Policing Units, Training, Firearms and Dog Units of the two forces. The IT departments of the forces merged in early 2011.

The force is overseen by Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes, who stood as an independent and who is a former chairman of Hampshire Police Authority.