The Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward, has been elected Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel (PCP) at a meeting on 21 July 2023.

As well as leading Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Woodward is also a Hampshire County Councillor; the Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association; and the Chairman of the Partnership for South Hampshire.

Councillor Woodward’s previous work supporting policing includes nine years on Hampshire Police Authority, as well as membership of the Fareham Police Liaison Committee and work as a Police custody lay visitor.

He replaces previous Chairman of the Panel, Councillor Simon Bound, who is a member of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The role of the PCP is to scrutinise and support the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, who was elected in May 2021 to oversee policing and criminal justice across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Although the Police and Crime Commissioner is ultimately accountable to the electorate, the Police and Crime Panel is responsible for reviewing the Commissioner’s actions and decisions.

Following his appointment, Councillor Woodward said: “I am delighted to be elected as Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel. I take the panel’s duty to the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight very seriously, and look forward to representing their interests and priorities when scrutinising the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“I would like to thank my predecessor, Councillor Simon Bound, for his very good work leading this panel over the last two years.”

Councillor Vivian Achwal, from Winchester City Council, was elected Vice Chairman.