Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Candidates for crucial police role state their cases
Rioting in Bristol last weekend and subsequent protests have cast policing in Avon and Somerset under the spotlight. Stephen Sumner questions the candidates hoping to be the next police and crime commissioner for the area
PEOPLE will go to the polls in May to select the next police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset.
The independent incumbent, Sue Mountstevens, is stepping down after nine years serving in the £86,000-a-year role, describing it as a privilege.
The race is on to replace her and five candidates have announced they are standing for election so far.
Whoever is successful will be tasked with holding Avon and Somerset Police to account and setting its budget and priorities.
■ Why are you standing for election?
Policing is a vital public service. Political decisions have a major impact on the quality of policing. Crimes affect most seriously the most vulnerable in our society.
So, getting policing right must be a political objective. The Labour Party is the party of social justice. I want to do my utmost to get local policing right.
The crime detection figures for Avon and Somerset are very poor. People do not feel safe and have lost confidence in the ability of the police to detect crimes and to keep them safe.
What can your past experience bring to the role?
■
First as a justices’ clerk, running magistrates’ courts, and second as a barrister based in Bristol since 1991. Working in all courts in Avon and Somerset, I have over 50 years’ experience of criminal justice.
I know first-hand how budget cuts and local strategic decisions impact the ability of police officers to do their work, to detect crimes and to keep people safe.
The effect of closing police stations, cutting back on officer numbers in local communities and disbanding specialist teams of detectives can be seen in the detection rates for the crimes that affect ordinary people in our region.
How have you held authorities to account?
■
Part of my legal practice was to undertake judicial review cases. These cases always involved challenges to public bodies such as the police, local authorities and central government departments. I am very used to challenging the decisions of public bodies and holding them to account.
■ What would your priorities be as PCC?
Successful policing depends upon the gathering of local intelligence by local police officers.
My priorities for local policing are to: strengthen community policing with more officers who live and work in the areas for which they are responsible, police officers (not community support officers) who know their local people and who are known by their local people; stop the closure of police stations; bring back and strengthen specialist detective teams, such as burglary teams and sexual assault teams.
Why should people vote for you?
■
If you want a PCC who is going to serve all communities – rural, suburban and urban – by concentrating on local policing, stopping the closure of police stations, and improving detection rates – then vote for Kerry Barker.
If you want a PCC who is going to make policing of crimes against women and their safety a priority – then vote for Kerry Barker, the Labour Party candidate. No supporter of a political party responsible for the cuts to police budgets and noone responsible for local changes leading to dreadfully poor detection results can make those promises.
Cleo Lake – Green
■ Why are you standing for election?
I believe it is my duty as an activist, change maker and someone who cares deeply about our region, to take this opportunity to stand for election.
In doing so I also hope to encourage others to do the same, particularly younger people and those from diverse backgrounds who have been historically sidelined from public office.
The police and crime commissioner has opportunities to drive change in this, and other key policy areas.
I have years of political and community experience in the region and believe I can champion better policing – with communities, for communities.
What can your past experience bring to the role?
■
I have wide experience in public life. I have been a Bristol councillor since 2015, and on Avon Fire Authority since 2017. I chaired the AFA’s diversity inclusion cohesion equalities committee, now the people and culture committee.
I am former Chair of St Pauls Carnival, and the Independent Advisory Group 2016-2018.
I served as Lord Mayor of Bristol 2018/19, and on the Weca Audit Committee 2020/2021. I work with the National Fire Services Management committee, working cross party and nationally 2019/21.
Alongside these public positions, I also continue engagement in creative community work across the region.
How have you held authorities to account?
■
As chair of people and culture committee at Avon Fire Authority, I have been responsible for monitoring and scrutinising the work plan on the culture change journey.
Through activism such as the Justice For Judah Campaign, I am practised in rallying and speaking truth to power on matters of anti-austerity, Black Lives Matter and reparations.
I will always be diplomatic and respectful, but I will also always address matters of concern head on, and advocate transparency.
■ What would your priorities be as PCC?
Trust – The police should reflect the communities they work for. This requires recruitment amongst under-represented groups, and supporting recruits through the challenges they face.
Prevention – Focus on youth. Reform is needed of: drug laws
which create needless criminals and victims; cybercrime; and road safety.
Spending – Despite budget pressures the public deserve value-for – money policing.
Reform – Avon and Somerset Constabulary was found to be institutionally racist in 2017 – more needs to be done to address this.
Oversight – Independent advisory groups need review, as well as listening to the Police Federation as unions have an important voice.
■ Why should people vote for you? I have a reputation as a strong
social justice advocate. I am a creative and also have significant experience and a strong career in public life.
What I can bring cannot be brought by any of the other candidates.
I am a caring person who has the ability to listen and mediate on one hand, and the ability to advocate and speak out on the other.
The time has come to choose sides; either you stand for justice or you are part of injustice.
The police must now stand with justice and go all out in reforming.
Heather Shearer – Lib Dem
■ Why are you standing for election?
I want people to feel safe wherever they live, by improving the resourcing and deployment of community police officers, to ensure they are properly embedded in their neighbourhoods.
I want everyone who comes into contact with the police to feel they are being fairly treated and that they will be heard. The most vulnerable people need to know they will be listened to and protected from harm.
We need more than the basics of policing by consent; the police need to be an active partner and build effective relationships with their communities.
What can your past experience bring to the role?
■
I am experienced in supporting and scrutinising the police and crime commissioner in my role as vice-chair of the police and crime panel. I am also a member of the Safer Somerset Partnership where we oversee and convene multi-agency work to reduce crime and create safer communities.
I am not a career politician. I have worked in a range of different jobs in the private and public sectors so can see the world from many viewpoints. I like to work with people to make things work better.
How have you held authorities to account?
■
As vice-chair of the police and crime panel and member of the Safer Somerset Partnership I have focused on what public bodies can do to put the issue of mental health front and centre. I also led the panel’s scrutiny work with the Lighthouse Safeguarding Unit, supporting victims of domestic violence and violent crime.
My role on the panel is also to scrutinise the annual budget and approve the police precept element of the council tax rate. This year we took the decision to ask the PCC to reconsider a lower rate to protect our most vulnerable residents.
What would your priorities be as PCC?
■
Promote effective community-led approaches to address crime; improve the management of offenders to break the cycle of crime; ensure the force keeps its promise of “inclusivity and diversity in recruitment” and “equality in policing”; ensure Community Police Teams are properly resourced; increase prosecutions of burglars, thieves and scammers; crime prevention and building safer communities would be my absolute focus. As PCC, I would work hard to protect people in every community, working more effectively with partner organisations across the county to ensure our children are safe, victims are supported and offenders are brought to justice.
■ Why should people vote for you?
I am determined to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community are treated fairly and equally and that taxpayers’ money is used effectively.
I can ask difficult questions but I can also build effective working relationships. I look to make evidencebased decisions but I know you have to take people with you, especially when the decisions are not what everyone wants to hear.
Policing cannot be ‘divorced’ from the wider issues affecting public health and the urgent need to work together on early intervention services, to reduce deprivation and social inequality and to prevent crime and create safer communities.
Mark Shelford – Conservative
■ Why are you standing for election?
The role of police and crime commissioner is a big one, and how well it is done, or not, really matters for everyone’s quality of life in Avon and Somerset. As a British Army officer for 32 years, I worked closely with police forces around the world, and I want to put that experience and knowledge to work in the interests of all communities across our region.
■ What can your past experience bring to the role?
I’ve sat on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel, which monitors the work of the PCC. It’s given me a clear idea of what our local police need and how they can be more effectively managed.
In my time as a soldier I learnt what good policing looks like and how to lead people to ensure it’s delivered.
As an elected local councillor I’ve learnt how important it is to speak to residents directly to understand their issues and concerns; that’s vital to be successful in representing the public and building trust.
How have you held authorities to account?
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On the police and crime panel I regularly held the current PCC to account by challenging her to justify decisions.
If I can see things are wrong, I am not afraid to say so. I was one of the members of the Avon Fire Authority who spotted serious problems of poor performance and worse.
I worked with the Government to initiate a thorough inspection that led to an independent review and wide-ranging changes which put things right.
What would your priorities be as PCC?
■
Reassure residents the police are there for them – I’ll increase visible policing, and work with communities to make them more resistant to crime; refocus the police on fighting crimes people care about, by freeing officers up from quasi-social services activities other agencies can undertake; rebuild morale on the frontline; I’ll overhaul training especially for managers and cut paperwork to allow police more time on our streets. I want better terms of service for special constables, and the use of police buildings needs reviewing. And I’ll also investigate the efficiency of the current office of the PCC.
■ Why should people vote for you?
I understand what’s needed to lead, motivate and mobilise a uniformed organisation.
I’ve helped implement effective anti-crime operations in diverse communities around the world, establishing peace and good order through effective consultation, respecting democracy, and bringing people with me.
The public know what to expect from a Conservative candidate on law and order. I bring no baggage, like trying to justify poor decisions of recent years by the current PCC.
I will use my influence within Government constructively, to ensure we build back not just better but also safer in Avon and Somerset.
John Smith – Independent
■ Why are you standing for election?
I am standing because I am dedicated to protecting the safety of everyone in
Avon and
Somerset and to provide a credible independent candidate.
I will prioritise crime reduction and make Avon and Somerset the best and most inclusive police force in the country.
I have worked for the current independent PCC for eight years leading her team, and was deputy police and crime commissioner for the last year, supporting the police enforcement of Covid restrictions.
I believe that my experience and proven track record make me the best candidate to keep the people in the area safe from crime.
What can your past experience bring to the role?
■
My experience in the crime and criminal justice sector and relationships with partners across the area make me the right candidate to help keep the residents and businesses of Avon and Somerset safe and free from crime.
As leader of the Avon and Somerset PCC’s team for eight years and deputy PCC for a year helping the police to tackle Covid-19 restrictions, I have a proven track record of delivering improvements based on what people tell us they want; for example, reducing burglary by 10 per cent, so if people elect me they can trust me to reflect their concerns.
How have you held authorities to account?
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I have nine years’ experience of holding the Avon and Somerset police chief constable to account on behalf of residents, as well as holding other partners accountable for working with the police to improve local services.
One way we have done this is to involve local people in reviewing police activity and providing feedback for police improvements – such as via the scrutiny of police powers panel which has looked at, among many other issues, police use of stop and search.
We have also held regular Facebook Live sessions to ask the chief constable questions from local people.
What would your priorities be as PCC?
■
If elected, my priorities to reduce crime and keep the residents of Avon and Somerset safe will be: supporting the police to enforce the Covid regulations appropriately so we can get back to living normally as soon as possible; tackling knife and drug crime, including county lines; catching burglars and reducing burglaries; combating anti-social behaviour; championing Avon and Somerset to become the most inclusive police force in the country; improving road safety; preventing fraud and cybercrime; addressing rural crime and supporting rural communities; working in partnership to address business crime
Why should people vote for you?
■
I am the only candidate that can keep the party politics out of policing.
Policing should be about keeping people safe, not about political agendas.
As an independent, I will answer only to residents and businesses, not to party politicians in Westminster.
My experience has enabled me to understand the diversity of people’s needs across the area depending on where they live, their background and their own priorities.
I pledge to deliver what I know local people want – which is a strong, inclusive, accountable and visible local policing service if elected as their next PCC.