Prime Minster Gordon Brown wants more police on the beat in Hampshire

Mr Brown said it was “unacceptable”

that many forces – including Hampshire – had failed to live up to a promise to ensure neighbourhood police spent at least 80 per cent of their time on their patch.

The commitment formed a “fundamental part” of the policing pledge to local communities, which came into effect for all forces last year.

A report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary last October found that Hampshire Constabulary’s performance in meeting the objective “falls short of the required standard”, adding that “remedial action was needed”.

It added that team members were frequently given duties that took them away from their neighbourhoods and the force did not collect information to show what percentage of their time was spent visibly working in neighbourhoods.

The force could not say whether the 80 per cent level was being achieved.

Hampshire police also fell down on two other pledges highlighted by Mr Brown yesterday – responding to all nonemergency issues within 24 hours and monthly beat meetings to discuss priorities.

The Prime Minister, in a speech on law and order, said: “A fundamental part of the policing pledge is that neighbourhood police teams should spend 80 per cent of their time on the beat. This is a promise that every force has made to every community.”

Neighbourhood policing teams, led by police officers, include community support officers, special constables, local authority wardens and volunteers. They were put together to tackle persistent issues of concern in local communities and to boost confidence and accountability in local policing.

Hampshire Constabulary said its latest public survey showed that 62 per cent of people in the county agreed that police and local authorities were dealing with antisocial behaviour and crime issues that mattered in their area.

Next week, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will publish for the first time online report cards of police performance.