Tories win control of two West police forces
TWO West police forces that previously had independent police and crime commissioners have been won by Conservative candidates.
Mark Shelford emerged victorious in the election for Avon and Somerset and David Sidwick won Dorset.
They replaced independents Sue Mountstevens and Martyn Underhill, both of whom had served for nine years since the roles were created.
After 21 of the 39 police and crime commissioner elections around the country had declared the Conservatives had been elected in 17 and Labour in four areas.
Some critics fear that this will increase the influence of Home Secretary Priti Patel on policing.
Ex-soldier Mr Shelford said he was excited to be starting in the £86,700-a-year role.
The first major decision in his in-tray is finding a new chief constable – with Andy Marsh stepping down in July.
He made election pledges to “reassure, refocus and rebuild” and prioritise preventing crime, not just trying to catch criminals.
With the election postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Shelford will only serve for a threeyear term.
He said: “It’s really exciting and quite humbling. There’s a huge responsibility placed on my shoulders. I’m relishing the opportunity to get started as soon as possible.”
Mr Shelford has criticised the police for its handling of the Kill the Bill riots and said it should not have allowed a “mob” to pull down the Bristol’s statue of slave trader Edward Colston.
One of his first tasks will be to appoint a new chief constable after Andy Marsh announced he would leave the role in July, although he said he would not rush into a decision.
The new PCC will also appoint a deputy, and said he will work with the police and crime panel in doing so.
The role of deputy PCC was created last year to increase resilience at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Shelford is the former transport boss on Bath and North East Somerset Council and said he wanted to look in detail at the city centre security measures planned for Bath that have caused some concern, noting that the terror threat had reduced since they were first proposed.
Giving his acceptance speech, the Conservative PCC thanked the election staff, his team, his family and Ms Mountstevens.
“She will always be known as the first PCC of Avon and Somerset. She has worked tirelessly over the last nine years to keep the people of Avon and Somerset safer.”
He thanked the “whole police family”, saying: “The public on the doorstep recognise your stoic courage and they all thank you for what you have done over the last years to keep Avon and Somerset safer.
“And last, thanks to the public who have lent me your vote. Together we can work to keep Avon and Somerset safer.”
In Dorset Mr Sidwick comfortably beat Independent candidate Dan Hardy. The role commands a salary of £71,400 due to Dorset being a smaller force.
Dorset Police chief constable James Vaughan told the BBC: “I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to David Sidwick. My colleagues and I stand ready to support him in any way we can.”
The counts for the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police and crime commissioners will take place today.