It’s a ‘bluewash’ for Tories in Crime Commissioner poll
Rotarians on course to aid Samaritans
THE Rotary Club of Ashbourne has announced a date for its charity golf day, which will be supporting a local branch of the Samaritans, along with its other charities.
The club will be donating half the proceeds from its popular annual event to the Samaritans Derby and District branch.
The charity golf day will take place at Ashbourne Golf Club on Friday, June 4th and proceeds will also support other local and international charities.
Teams of four can compete on the day, and the £37.50 per person price includes a meal in the clubhouse.
The Rotarians say they would also welcome sponsorship support or raffle prize donations from local organisations.
to find out more, email rotarian John Griffiths at johndgriffiths547@hotmail.co.uk.
THE Conservatives have claimed victory in the election for Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner, a civilian post that oversees the county’s police force.
It means Derbyshire now has women in the top two policing roles – the chief constable and police and crime commissioner.
Conservative Angelique Foster earned 149,749 votes, with Labour’s Hardyal Dhindsa receiving 117,564.
Liberal Democrat Stan Heptinstall and Reform UK’S Timothy Prosser were eliminated in the first round of votes.
After the first round, Ms Foster led with 137,884 votes, with Mr Dhindsa on 104,700.
As neither had received more than 50% of the votes, the two lowest-polling candidates were eliminated and second preference ballots counted.
The turnout was 35.74 per cent, up from 2016.
Derbyshire County Council’s leader, Barry Lewis, congratulated the winner on Twitter.
He wrote: “It’s a total Blue Wash! We have a Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner for #Derbyshire.
“Well done @Cllrangelique.” Derbyshire Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: “I look forward to working with Angelique.
“The PCC’S role of governance, scrutiny, budget setting, and working with partners and local communities is crucial and I know that this is important to Ms Foster.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hardyal Dhindsa for his dedication to the role.
He has shown passion and dedication to the role and has worked tirelessly with the force and partners to help reduce crime in the county and make Derbyshire a safe place to work, live and visit.”
Ahead of the elections, Ms Foster was asked how she would tackle a variety of policing issues, if she was elected into the role of Police and Crime Commissioner.
In terms of the mental health crisis and related social issues, she said: “Tackling homelessness and drug issues associated with mental health concerns is a complex matter and there is not just one solution.
“We need to see increased efforts to work with partner agencies. With the potential added pressure on police officers, there needs to be a concerted strategy between all organisations involved to tackle the problem.
“Police officers will need to be fully supported by other organisations and charities.
“Earlier this year, the government announced an additional £643 million for the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Project and Substance Misuse over four years.
“Public Safety and protecting the most vulnerable people in society is a key priority.
“I will work with central government to make sure these funds and these initiatives support and prepare our Police Officers to help those in our community that suffer from mental health crises and the associated issues.”
When quizzed about tackling violence against emergency workers, she said: “We have seen some really shocking attacks on emergency workers recently. These are despicable crimes as the victims are people who spend their lives in the service of others, helping keep people safe and protected.
“I fully support the Police, Crime, Court and Sentencing Bill, which aims to overhaul our sentencing system. Doubling the maximum sentence for those convicted of assault on frontline staff, including police, firefighters and paramedics from 12 months to two years is the right thing to do.
“If elected as Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, I will be backing the police to take a zero tolerance approach to such assault.
“I will also make sure that they have the confidence to use the powers and tools that they have, like stop and search, like tasers, to tackle criminals and protect the public and themselves.”
And she had this to say about her approach to tackling domestic abuse and violence: “Too many women, children – and men - are victims of crime in their own home and sadly, we have seen an increase in the last year due to coronavirus.
“Furthermore, we have seen an outpouring of concerns over recent months for the safety of women and girls in particular.
“We will be putting the systems in place to bring about the changes that we all want to see and provide extra protection for women and girls in particular through our violence against Women and Girls Strategy (VAWG).
“There should be a zero tolerance for perpetrators and we should all take a strong stance against it, regardless of our political persuasion. We are also increasing sentences for those committing violent and sexual offences, to keep the worse offenders behind bars and off our streets.
“As the next police and Crime Commissioner, I will make sure these national initiatives of Domestic Abuse Bill, VAWG strategy, massively increased funding, increased sentences and extra Police Officers brought by central government take effect here in Derbyshire.”