A police panel has spoken out after a top police boss in Hampshire faced calls to quit for stating that rioters were attempting to “uphold British values”.

Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, came under fire when she released a statement in the wake of first wave of riots across the UK, sparked by the killings of three young girls in Southport.

Ms Jones wrote: "The questions these people want answering; what is the government's solution to mass uncontrolled immigration?

"How are the new Labour government going to uphold and build on British values?"

"This is the biggest challenge facing Sir Kier Starmer’s government (sic), and its bitten quickly.”

The Echo approached Hampshire’s Police and Crime Panel, responsible for holding the commissioner to account, to see if any action is being taken in relation to the statement.

A spokesperson said: “The role of the panel is to scrutinise decisions taken by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Commissioners themselves are elected by local residents and any complaints made to the panel about the conduct of a commissioner will be responded to in accordance with the PCP’s normal complaints procedures.”

This comes after calls for Jones to quit, including by Eastleigh's MP Liz Jarvis.

In a statement, she said: “Far from appealing for calm, the statement by Hampshire PCC Donna Jones attempting to justify the criminality we have seen across the UK this week is divisive, inflammatory and grossly irresponsible.

“Her position is clearly untenable.”

Danny Chambers, the newly elected MP for Winchester, said Ms Jones 'should be considering her position' following her comments.

Donna Jones is a Conservative Party politician and former leader of Portsmouth City Council.

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.