Public Safety
Hampshire and the Solent has a strong track record of effective region-wide partnership working on matters of public safety and local resilience to emergencies. Regional collaboration between partners is greatly assisted by the fact that key public safety organisations and forums already operate at the Hampshire and Solent regional level. Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton are currently covered by one Police and Crime Commissioner, by one Fire and Rescue Authority, and by one Local Resilience Forum.
Public Safety: What will be devolved to Hampshire and the Solent?
The Mayor and Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) will have a prominent role in the region’s public safety partnerships, supporting a joined-up strategic approach to public safety across the region and overseeing police governance and fire services in the future. Examples of the powers and responsibilities that will be held by the Mayor and the HSCCA on public safety include:
- Local resilience: the HSCCA and Mayor will be involved in supporting regional preparedness for emergencies, working closely with the Local Resilience Forum and all agencies who have a role in resilience planning and response.
- Policing and fire services: The Hampshire and the Solent Mayor will become accountable for the functions currently exercised by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire and Rescue Authority. It is expected that responsibility for police governance and fire functions will be transferred to the Hampshire and Solent Mayor, but this is subject to secondary legislation. The Mayor must appoint a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to assist with policing governance and has the option of delegating fire responsibilities to the same Deputy Mayor or a Public Safety Commissioner.
- Information sharing: the HSCCA will have a duty to disclose information relating to the reduction of crime and disorder, including anti-social behaviour, to other relevant authorities (such as local authorities, social landlords and the police).
Opportunities of devolution
As the Mayor develops their role in local resilience and assumes responsibility for policing governance and fire and rescue functions in Hampshire and the Solent, there is potential for devolution to unlock further opportunities to join up the region’s public safety services and partners. The remit of the Mayor and the HSCCA to enhance public safety and local resilience could support local authorities and partners to work more closely together, share resources where appropriate, and develop strategies tailored to the needs of communities in Hampshire and the Solent.
The Hampshire and Solent Devolution programme is working closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) to develop robust plans for their organisational transitions. This process is being shaped by best practice from other Combined Authorities where similar transitions have already taken place, ensuring that lessons learned elsewhere are applied locally.