News / Politics
Who are the Avon & Somerset PCC candidates?
Police and crime commissioners are responsible for holding the Chief Constable and police force to account on the public’s behalf. They oversee how crime is tackled in their area and aim to make sure that the police are providing a good service.
The police and crime commissioner role includes:
- meeting the public regularly to listen to their views on policing
- producing a police and crime plan setting out local policing priorities
- deciding how the budget will be spent
- appointing Chief Constables and dismissing them if needed
For more information, visit www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk
Here are the seven candidates standing for election on May 5:
Kerry Barker – Labour Party
“If elected I will bring back policing to the people. I am a senior barrister specialising in criminal law for over 25 years. Over the last four years I have seen the devastating effect upon front line police officers of the government’s cuts and consequential changes in operation. This includes experience of the inadequate investigations criticised by others. I am totally independent of the police.
“My principles are informed by my life-long membership of the Labour Party but my legal background means I am independent-minded. Police officers’ morale in the Avon & Somerset Constabulary is very low. Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary has judged that the force ‘requires improvement’.
“The latest serious case review criticises the quality of investigations into child sexual exploitation. Violent crime is on the increase. Sexual assaults and incidents of domestic violence have also gone up significantly.
“People feel that the centralisation of police resources has removed policing from them. After four chief constables in fewer than four years the police need stability and leadership. Priorities have to be changed to produce better policing with better use of experience and resources. The specialist teams disbanded over recent years should be brought back into operation.
My pledges are clear:
- More officers on the beat – in rural communities, towns, on estates and in the inner cities
- Officers who know their community and where people know them
- Better technology – to allow police officers to work where they are (instead of having to return to the ever dwindling number of police stations)
- Body cameras for all police officers
- The reinstatement of specialist teams – to deal with child abuse, sex offences and domestic violence
Chris Briton – Green Party
“Imagine crime falling year on year because the causes of crime are being dealt with. Inequality, substance misuse, mental health issues, school exclusions. We need to address those.
We need to tackle violence against children including sexual exploitation. Every child matters and that includes ‘Looked After’ kids. We also need to tackle violence against women, including domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse.
“And imagine a serious debate about drug reform and decriminalisation. Wouldn’t that be something!
“Public trust and confidence in the police needs to improve. If they can protect children from harm, protect women from abuse, and deal sensibly with substance misusers, our communities will then be much safer places in which to live.”
Paul Crossley – Liberal Democrats
“My top priorities to make us safe:
- Safeguard frontline policing
- Cut re-offending
- Improve detection rates and provide closure for victims
“Police officers have a tough job and need more support. We need to free up the police to spend less time with bureaucracy and in offices and have more time in our communities. A significant amount of police time is taken up with people with mental health issues who need other help. We all need to work together to ensure anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is not caught up in the criminal system. We must allow our police to concentrate on solving and stopping crime.
“I’ll also make sure we do more to cut re-offending.
“Focusing on rehabilitation and restorative justice cuts crime, saves police time and taxpayers’ money.
“In addition, more needs to be done to stop people becoming criminals in the first place. We need to identify and support at-risk teenagers and young adults before they fall into a life of crime.
“I have been the Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council for 9 years and understand how to ensure large public bodies and other agencies work together in the most effective way. As a Councillor for 25 years I know what it takes to keep people on the straight and narrow.
“I’ll use that experience to ensure we’re doing all we can to tackle the causes of crime in our communities.
“With your support on May 5 I’ll make sure we have an effective and focussed police force that will help keep you, your family and local community safe.
www.facebook.com/CllrPaulCrossley
Aaron Warren Foot
“We the people of the South West deserve the opportunity to have a different type of person representing their interests, working with police forces across the region to deliver outstanding levels of service.
“I may be standing under the UKIP banner but the key part in the name for me is the word “Independence”. UKIP local representatives are free to stand for their constituents free from the bounds of the party whip. My focus will be upon the policing requirements of the local community.
“I stand upon a platform supported by five pillars:
- Ensure that ALL crime is recorded and improve the ease of reporting.
- Reverse the current decline in police numbers.
- Guarantee rural police units get the tools they need to tackle crime.
- I will work closely with partners to stop people with mental health issues being detained in police cells.
- The reinstatement of specialist teams.
“If elected I want to make sure my term will be one of transparency and community involvement. As a result, I have signed up to a standards checklist on Public Life, which promotes high ethical standards.
www.facebook.com/aaronfootukip
Sue Mountstevens – Independent
“In 2012 you elected me as your PCC with 125,000 votes, for which I thank you whole-heartedly. It has been a privilege to serve you.
“As an independent I’m determined that party politics have no place in policing. The Police are there to keep us safe. The Police belong to you, not to political ideologies, nor career politicians.
“I will continue to protect residents and Police from political interference, without fear or favour – answerable only to residents of Avon and Somerset.
“Policing is complex. Being your PCC for over three years, leading a major local business, plus years as a magistrate, uniquely qualify me to provide managerial skills and leadership to deliver the Police Service we all deserve.
“Government cuts of £60m meant fewer police officers – with further savings to come. Wise prioritisation, partnerships and technology is the way forward.
“With the Chief Constable, tackling the rise of crimes against our most vulnerable will be a priority.
“If you choose me to be your PCC again, I shall continue to:
- Protect residents and police from political interference. Keeping Politics out of Policing
- Prevent crime so you can be safe and feel safe
- Listen and be your voice: working with the Chief Constable for better policing
- Champion Police Officers, PCSO’s and Special Constables in your Neighbourhood
- Be a fierce advocate for victims
- Work with partners to make justice more accessible, faster, simpler
- Ensure your money is spent efficiently, effectively, wisely
MAKING A DIFFERENCE SINCE 2012
– Over 25,000 victims supported by Lighthouse
– Anti-social behaviour reduced
– Reporting of domestic and sexual violent crimes increased by 50 per cent reflecting more confidence
– All-time low in burglaries in 2014 with increased crime prevention
– Road safety: more investment in education and enforcement resulting in fewer killed/seriously injured
Kevin Stewart Phillips – Independent
“I am standing as an Independent PCC candidate as I believe politics has no place in policing.
“Honesty, Integrity, Openness and Fairness. These, the principles that have stood by me, underlined the 26 years of my policing career which I have served the residents of Avon and Somerset as a Police Officer.
“I am fiercely proud of the independent role of the Police and have always been passionate about Avon and Somerset Constabulary and its ability to deliver the best possible service to the residents of the area.
“Avon and Somerset Constabulary has gone through a difficult period over the last few years. I want to change that, to be the person that can rebuild the reputation and service delivery in partnership with the new Chief Constable.
“I will prioritise:
- Putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system, ensuring working in partnership the needs of the victims are prioritised.
- Re-focus and Re-assess the needs of Neighbourhood Policing, listen to what you are saying and embed policing back into the communities.
- Protect the people that protect us, be the PCC that increases the number of police officers and PCSOs year on year to be able to deliver the visible service we all want.
- Deal with traditional and modern day crimes robustly and effectively, making best use of the criminal justice system to achieve the right outcomes.
- Deliver value for money, making sure that the budgets available are spent in the right places to deliver the service you should rightly deserve.
- A vote for me is a vote for unrivalled experience in Policing and a determination to make Avon and Somerset an even better place to live.
Mark Weston – Conservative Party
“As a councillor from a ward with historic crime problems I know how effective it is when Police get out of their patrol cars and engage with the community.
“Since 2009, thanks to this approach, anti-social behaviour is down nearly 75 per cent. Visible, community based policing helps prevent crime, cuts reoffending and reassures the public.
“As my grandmother would say – ‘Prevention is better than cure’.
“Over the last three years police numbers have fallen, police stations have closed, yet the PR team has grown by a quarter and the office of the PCC now costs £100k more than the previous Police Authority.
“The current priorities are wrong. We must protect the front line, not inflate the back office.
“With your support I vow to put the community first.
“My priorities are:
Putting the community at the heart of policing
I believe in community policing with a strong, visible presence on our streets.
Devolve and empower local policing
The Force area is too large to adopt a ‘one size fits all approach’.
Reducing re-offending
I will work with the Crown Prosecution Service and Courts to speed up justice to get criminals off our streets and before the courts.
Greater support for victims of crime
Make better use of new victim support methods, such as restorative justice, to provide a victim-led system of support.
Reducing rural crime is a priority
I will prioritise combatting rural crime. We must tackle the perception that this is an afterthought.
Tackling anti-social behaviour and drug crime
We need to ensure that local residents and the Police are working together to tackle these problems robustly.
Read more: ‘I challenge this PCC to provide an example’