Police head tells of ‘difficult time’ as she decides against re-election
THE DECISION of an outspoken police, fire and crime commissioner has spoken about her decision to not stand for re-election.
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan announced that after facing “a very difficult time” she had decided to not contest for the £70,000-a-year role in May next year.
The Conservative commissioner, whose party members recently voted not to automatically readopt her as their candidate for the post, said: “I am passionate about public service, and in recent months have explained some of my reasons why.
“But, in seven years of being the elected commissioner, I have taken tough decisions which I firmly believe are the right ones, but which others clearly disagree with and we have seen the results of that in recent weeks.
“I know the role has been controversial, but we have moved to decisions being made in full view by someone who has been elected democratically to do just that. This opportunity is one I have embraced, and I have used every mechanism available to me to make a difference.
“A lot has been achieved, there is a lot more to do, I look forward to achieving as much of that as is possible before May 2020.”
Last month, Mrs Mulligan became the only commissioner in the country to have her proposed inflation-busting council tax demand vetoed by a police watchdog, which has also been critical of the manner in which she treated members of her staff.
Supporters of Mrs Mulligan have repeatedly claimed that she has been the subject of a concerted campaign to unseat her, while she has suggested some Conservatives in the county have issues with women in authority.
Controversial decisions undertaken by the commissioner during her seven years in the role have included her decision to move the police headquarters from a listed building at Newby Wiske to the former Rural Payments Agency base in Northallerton, where residents said it created car parking chaos.