Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones (Con) has announced she intends to run as Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent region in 2026, when a new mayoral authority for Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is likely to be established.
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In a statement Jones, who as reported was re-elected as PCC last year, said that the devolution plans will be one of the “biggest changes in governance nationally and locally in a generation”, with the new mayor taking control of services including transport, housing, skills and the economy.
She added: “But strong public protection and safer neighbourhoods must also be at the heart of the new mayoral combined authority. What is clear is that under the current devolution proposals, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the governance of the fire service will likely be subsumed by the Mayor’s office.
“Embedding public safety within the broader scope of regional governance is key. Community safety must be a central pillar to benefit the unique aspects of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; the two counties I care so deeply about. That is why I intend to run as Mayor for Hampshire and the Solent in the Mayoral elections in May 2026.”
An overview of the government consultation on its devolution plans is here, and the actual consultation is here.