EyesOn community continues to grow as we encourage more people in the rural to sign up

EyesOn community continues to grow as we encourage more people in the rural to sign up

In March 2026 we launched our dedicated EyesOn app, allowing people with a business connection to the rural or wildlife environment to receive direct rural policing updates from us, but more importantly – offer them a bespoke tool to report information to us about crime, anti-social behaviour and suspicious activity affecting their rural neighbourhood.

Since we launched in March, we have welcomed 500 members. Thank you for your continued support for EyesOn and the work we are doing to make rural communities safer for those that live and work in them. 

We have published 215 news articles and alerts, keeping the rural communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight up to date with rural policing updates, good news, crime prevention advice and community partner updates. 

The app has allowed 188 crime reports to be made by members, with these reports being sent directly into our contact management teams for triage and allocation. Reporting through the app allows members to follow a bespoke process to report rural crime incidents into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, ensuring we obtain the correct details from the start. It also ensures members do not have to submit all their personal details again as these are already recorded.

Gareth Lewis from UKPAC, who has supported the development of the EyesOn app, said: “Reaching 500 members is a fantastic milestone and a credit to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s rural policing team, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the rural communities who have embraced EyesOn.

“As the first police force in the UK to adopt the app, Hampshire has shown leadership in making rural policing more accessible. The 188 crime reports submitted through EyesOn demonstrate its practical value, helping people report incidents through a process designed around rural crime and giving police the details they need from the outset. Alongside this, regular news, alerts and prevention advice help keep communities informed and connected.

“Rural communities deserve to feel heard, supported and able to reach their police force wherever they live or work. With the support of the NFU, and discussions already under way with several other forces, our ambition is to establish EyesOn Rural in every rural county across the UK.

“Hampshire & IOW has taken the first step. We would of course, welcome conversations with any constabulary that wants to build on this example and bring these benefits to their own rural communities.”

Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force Inspector Cath MacDonald said: “EyesOn continues to be a fantastic platform which brings our rural communities together with police in one accessible and easy to manage space. 

“This not only allows us to update those communities with crucial information and reassurance about rural crime and policing in their local area, including police activity across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but also enables members to report information to us directly through the app.

“This has been an effective development and makes reporting rural crime to police easier and quicker for members. EyesOn is making a real difference to how we build intelligence and engage with our communities, whilst ensuring rural policing is more accessible to the public.”

The EyesOn app has been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones who continues to promote and support rural policing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Donna Jones said: “Reporting and policing rural crime has not always been easy, which is why it is pleasing to see so many people joining our Hampshire EyesOn Community.

“The processing of crime reports by the digital app allows for more effective frontline policing in our countryside. Since I launched the app earlier this year, EyesOn has already helped to make rural areas across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer places to live and work.”

We want to increase our membership to the app so that we can reach more of our rural communities. 

EyesOn is designed for use by people with a business interest in rural and wildlife matters such as farmers, gamekeepers and rural estate owners.

There is a private rural community within the app that approved users can join, such as rural businesses, workers and partner agencies.

Why not sign up for free? Please also continue to encourage those you work with to sign up too.

Download EyesOn through the app store on your phone, or here: https://eyesonapp.com/download/