Quartet aspire to office that holds police to account
ELECTION FOR COUNTY’S POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER TAKES PLACE NEXT MONTH
FOUR candidates are bidding to be Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in next month’s elections.
Residents will go to the polls to cast their vote on Thursday May 2.
The PCC is an elected representatives who holds police forces and chief constables to account.
The role, which has a four-year term, includes publishing a police and crime plan. This involves consulting with the public on their priorities
Prad Bains – Liberal Democrats
Prad Bains is taking part in his first PCC election campaign. He was elected as a Conservative to represent the Hart Plain ward on Havant Borough Council in 2018.
At the age of 24, Mr Bains became Havant’s youngest-ever mayor in 2020. He was elected as county councillor for Cowplain and Hart Plain in 2021 before resigning from the Conservative group in July 2021 to sit as an Independent.
Mr Bains joined the Liberal Democrats in September last year. He is the party’s parliamentary candidate for the Hamble Valley ward in the general election.
Don Jerrard – The Justice & Anti-Corruption Party
Don Jerrard is in his third campaign to become the county’s PCC. He and then explaining how they plan to address these issues.
The PCC also decides how much residents pay towards policing through their council tax.
Next month’s vote is the fourth PCC election since the role was created in 2012.
Hampshire’s first PCC was the Independent Simon Hayes. He was succeeded by Conservative Michael Lane, who held the position from 2016 to 2021.
The incumbent is former Conservative Portsmouth City Council entered the inaugural election representing The Justice and Anti-Corruption Party and entered as an leader Donna Jones, who is seeking re-election.
The force and PCC were renamed Hampshire and Isle of Wight in November 2022.
Next month’s vote will be the first PCC election to use the first past the post system. Previous elections used a supplementary vote system, which involved voters picking a first and second choice of candidate.
Who can I vote for?
Below are the four candidates standing for the position of Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC.
Independent candidate in 2016.
Mr Jerrard has been a Liphook parish councillor in the past. He is a
former UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate for Fareham, but quit the party in early 2015.
The former business lawyer stood as The Justice and Anti-Corruption Party candidate in the Portsmouth South parliamentary constituency months later in the general election.
Donna Jones – Conservative – More Police, Safer Streets
Donna Jones is the incumbent Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC having won the election in 2021, which took place a year later than scheduled due to the pandemic.
She was leader of Portsmouth City Council between 2014 and 2018, becoming the first woman to serve in this role. Ms Jones was a city councillor for 13 years, representing Hilsea from 2008 to 2021, when she became the PCC. She was unsuccessful
when she stood as the Conservative candidate for Portsmouth South in the 2019 general election
Ms Jones was a magistrate for 16 years.
Becky Williams – Labour and Co-operative
Becky Williams is standing as a PCC candidate for the first time. She is a councillor for Manor Park ward on Rushmoor Borough Council after being elected last year.
Ms Williams is the shadow portfolio holder for operational services as part of the 14-member opposition Labour group.
The candidate trained and qualified as a nurse in London, and decided to stand as an elected representative during the pandemic.
Ms Williams is currently studying a criminology degree.