The Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire has spoken out after the government revealed plans to abolish the position.
Clive Grunshaw said the decision "reinforces the vital need for a mayor to represent Lancashire both regionally and nationally on policing and crime".
This comes after policing minister Sarah Jones told the House of Commons "the model has failed to live up to expectations".
The 41 elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales will continue until the end of the current term in 2028, and their powers will then be transferred to elected mayors "wherever possible" and council leaders, who will lead new policing and crime boards.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the vital need for a mayor to represent Lancashire both regionally and nationally on policing and crime, championing investment and securing the best possible outcomes for our county," said Commissioner Grunshaw.
"Having a single, local representative answerable to the public has improved scrutiny and transparency, ensuring policing delivers on the issues that matter most to local communities.
"Whilst I am disappointed by today's announcement, I want to reassure the people of Lancashire that I remain fully committed to being their voice in policing, and to holding Lancashire Constabulary accountable for delivering the high-quality service our communities expect and deserve.
"The day-to-day work of my office, in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary and our Criminal Justice partners, will continue to drive forward my Police and Crime Plan. This includes preventing violence against women and girls, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and providing dedicated support services for victims of crime.
"I'm pleased the work of my office, and Police and Crime Commissioner's across the county have been recognised and commended.
"I remain in active discussions with local government partners about reorganisation and the move to a mayoral model in Lancashire. Whatever changes come next, public accountability must remain at the heart of police reform, with clear, identifiable leadership that is firmly connected to local communities, helping to keep people safe."
Sarah Jones said PCCs do important work and thanked all those who have held the office, as well as their staff, but said the model "has weakened local police accountability and has had perverse impacts on the recruitment of chief constables".
She also said less than a quarter of voters turned out to vote for PCCs last year, and two in five people are unaware they even exist.
The PCCs were first elected in 20212, after being introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.
They oversee non-operational aspects of policing, such as managing their local policing budgets and holding the chief constable to account.
Mr Grunshaw, a former Lancashire County Councillor for Labour, was first elected to the new PCC role for the county in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016.
Conservative Andrew Snowden defeated Mr Grunshaw in the 2021 election to assume the post. Mr Grunshaw then defeated Mr Snowden in the 2024 election to regain the role.
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