Councillor Karen Lucioni has been elected as Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel (PCP) at a meeting held today (Friday 26 July 2024).

Councillor Lucioni is an independent councillor with the Isle of Wight’s Alliance Group, representing Ryde Monktonmead, and has a keen focus on public safety, policing, national security and community resilience.

The role of the PCP is to scrutinise and support the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, who was re-elected in May this year 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.

Commenting on her appointment, Councillor Lucioni said: “I’m delighted to take up the position of PCP Chairman to further support the Panel’s important work in scrutinising and supporting the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“I’m proud to be independent, which allows me to work across political parties to ensure views from all areas of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are represented through the work of this Panel.”

The Panel also approved the appointment of a new Vice Chairman at the meeting, with the role being taken up by East Hampshire District Council Councillor Phillip Davies.

Three further appointments were made, filling the new local authority Co-opted Member roles, created to better ensure the Panel is representative of the police area and more fully reflects the political make-up of the local authorities within the area:

• Councillor Luigi Gregori (and Deputy Councillor David Podger) representing the Liberal Democrat Group;
• Councillor Simon Minas-Bound representing the Conservative Group; and
• Councillor Gwen Robinson representing the Conservative Group.

The Police and Crime Panel includes representatives from each of the local authorities in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police area. This includes the unitary authorities of Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight; the 11 Hampshire Borough and District councils; and Hampshire County Council. The panel includes two non-political members to add to the collective spread of experience and knowledge.