After a year’s delay, it’s time to vote for police and crime commissioner
THE candidates for the role of Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner have been announced ahead of the election next month.
On Thursday, May 6, a poll will be conducted in which eligible Derbyshire residents can vote for their next police and crime commissioner.
This year’s election had been due to take place last May, but this was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Residents can vote in person at their local polling stations or in the post over the next few weeks – if they are registered to do so.
This year an array of changes have been made to polling stations in a bid to make them Covid-secure.
Candidates have also been pulling back on their doorknocking and leaflet deliveries due to Covid restrictions.
The role of police and crime commissioner is effectively the public face of the police in the county and city.
Their role is to prioritise spending on police and crime across Derbyshire, working with the chief constable and a slew of staff.
Key issues may receive a different priority based on the eventual PCC.
This could see priorities shifted between bobbies on the beat, new technologies, new police bases, road safety, county lines drug offences, assaults on women, knife crime and much more.
Derby and Derbyshire’s PCC for the past five years has been Labour’s Hardyal Dhindsa.
The candidates for this year’s Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner are:
Hardyal Dhindsa – Labour and Co-operative Party
Angelique Foster – Conservative Party
Stan Heptinstall – Liberal Democrat
Tim Prosser – Reform UK
Polling stations for this year’s election will be open from 7am until 10pm, on Thursday, May 6.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, voters are advised to wear a face covering – unless exempt, to bring their own pen or pencil and to stick to two-metre social distancing, when attending a polling station.
To take part in this year’s election you must register to vote by Monday, April 19.
The deadline to register for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday, April 20 and the deadline for proxy vote applications – in which a designated person votes on your behalf – is Tuesday, April 27.
Voters in the Derby will also be voting for city council candidates at the same time as they can vote for police and crime commissioner.
This will be made clear on your ballot paper.
In the Derbyshire county area, all parts of the county excluding Derby, voters will be casting ballots for the county council elections at the same time as voting for PCC.
Amber Valley and Bolsover residents will have additional votes for their respective borough council election and by-elections.