The police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has pledged to fight for a directly elected mayor for the region to protect it from losing out on government investment.
Conservative Alison Hernandez said she was concerned that without it the region would “get left behind” when her role comes to an end in 2028.
Last month, the government announced it was going to scrap the role of PCCs to save money and that it would reinvest £20m a year in police forces.
“I am really anxious without a mayor and no police and crime commissioner we will get no investment from government,” Ms Hernandez said.
She added: “I’ve definitely got my eye on securing one for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
“We need to make a case with our communities to understand what it means to not have a mayor. If we don’t have one I’m really worried we’ll lose our resources and lose our voice.”
Ms Hernandez told BBC Radio Devon that she feared money would “get pulled into a regional organisation and we’ll lose control of it and the ability to police the way we want to police”.
Earlier this week, the PCC asked residents how they want their police force to be led and held to account in the future.
The government has said that the role of a PCC would be taken over by directly elected mayors, or council leaders in areas which do not have one, like Devon and Cornwall.
