‘I’m proud of the work we’ve done’
OUTGOING PCC WILL CONTINUE TO CAMPAIGN FOR LABOUR
PADDY Tipping reflected on “the best job he has ever had” as he prepared to hand over the reins after nearly 10 years as Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
Conservative Caroline Henry was voted in as the new PCC for Nottinghamshire after defeating Labour’s Mr Tipping in Thursday’s election.
The result was revealed on Saturday at Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford.
Turnout across the county was 34%, with Mrs Henry getting 138,658 votes to Mr Tipping’s 131,302. Lib Dem candidate David Watts was eliminated in the first round of the election.
Mr Tipping told the Post: “It’s been a bad few days for Labour, both in Hartlepool and councils across the country and here in Nottinghamshire. I think it follows the general trend of the difficulties the party are presently facing.
“But we’ve a new leader, the management of the party has changed over the past 12 months and we now need to ensure we put forward policies that are the people’s values and concerns, react to them and work with them.”
Speaking on his personal achievements in the PCC role, he said: “I said
I would listen to people. They said we wanted more police officers and we’ve got more - an extra 260 over the past two years and an extra 100 planned this year. Crime is down here. It’s down as of March 31 this year by 21%, probably double the national average.
“I’m particularly proud of the work we’ve done with partners on domestic violence; violence against women and girls had always been a priority for me. We’ve doubled the spending on support services for victims of domestic violence.”
He said another highlight was helping to tackle knife crime in the county - which Mr Tipping says is down by 11 percent.
“It’s been a mixture of partnership working, working in schools, working with the voluntary sector but also enforcing very strongly.
“Outside London we’re the only force in the country with a dedicated knife crime team - in fact we have two of them. “They’ve done a remarkably good job when it comes to enforcement.”
Mr Tipping said he was “Labour through and through” and will still get out there and speak to people about concerns.
“I’ve been in Labour all my life, we’re a Labour family, I am real Labour. I’m out campaigning every week and I will continue to campaign every week because we’ve got to rebuild the party to ensure we get a Labour government delivering for the real needs of local people.”
Mr Tipping, a former MP for Sherwood, had kept hold of the position since 2012. In the run up to the elections he told the Post: “I can’t change the world but I can make some changes for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and make it a safer place to live. It is the best job I have ever had because I can change things.”
Mrs Henry, who describes herself as “a career business woman” and is married to Broxtowe MP Darren Henry, was not available for comment on Saturday but tweeted: “Nottinghamshire has spoken out for change. I’m honoured to have been elected as your new Police & Crime Commissioner. However you voted and wherever you live, I will be a Commissioner that listens and delivers. Thank you for putting your faith in me. I won’t let you down.”
She decided to run as a candidate after three of her closest friends were burgled.
Police and Crime Commissioners work with the force to come up with initiatives to cut crime and are also responsible for how the money is spent.