Labour select for commissioner role

THE Labour Party has selected a student paramedic as its candidate to replace a police commissioner who resigned after making comments about Sarah Everard’s murder.

Emma Scott-Spivey applied for the role of North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner after hearing the comments by Philip Allott, who sparked outrage when he said women should be more ‘streetwise’ about powers of arrest and that Ms Everard should not have ‘submitted’ to arrest by her killer, serving police officer Wayne Couzens.

Ms Scott-Spivey, the daughter of two retired police officers, said the ‘damage done by Philip Allott must be repaired’ and she wants to rebuild trust in the police.

Mr Allott stepped down from the role after losing a no confidence vote by the North Yorkshire Fire and Crime panel on October 14.

He initially said he wanted to try to regain the public’s trust, branding his comments ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and ‘pathetic’, but resigned following the unanimous vote by the 11 members of the panel.

Mr Allott repeated his apologies for his remarks, saying he ‘misspoke’ and was ‘devastated’ by the impact of his words.

Ms Scott-Spivey, 23, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, said: “The police are facing unprecedented challenges - not just from savage cuts to funding but also due to a breakdown in trust.

“That trust must be rebuilt and the damage done by Philip Allott must be repaired.

“People in North Yorkshire need a commissioner who recognises their concerns. One who puts local people over party politics.”