Former PCC in Lib Dem switch to fight for office

FORMER Independent Gloucestershire police and crime commissioner Martin Surl, who believes party politics should be kept out of policing, will run for the same job as a Liberal Democrat in this year’s election.

Mr Surl, who held the office of PCC from 2012 until 2021, had ruled out ever standing again after losing out last time around.

But the former police officer, pictured, says he joined the Liberal Democrats after being impressed by their approach to law and order.

His party leader Ed Davey believes the PCC roles are pointless and should be scrapped with the millions saved spent on more police officers.

Mr Surl believes his switch to the Lib Dems makes him the standout challenger to Conservative incumbent Chris Nelson.

“This is a worrying time for our country and I feel more motivated than ever to stand up for what I believe in,” he said.

“The Conservative Party has failed on crime, with people and overstretched police officers left to bear the burden.

“There are huge backlogs in the courts which are denying victims the justice they deserve.

“Prisons are in crisis: overcrowded, understaffed and failing to rehabilitate offenders.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I pledge to do what I can for the people of this county, no matter who they vote for as I have always maintained that if elected you need to represent everyone and work with everyone, just like I did for many years as a police officer and then as commissioner.

“But people can rest assured that even though I’ve joined a political party, my values and my priorities have not changed one bit and I will remain passionate about the county I love and have served for most of my adult life.

“The current Conservative commissioner is way out of his depth.

“Gloucestershire now has fewer police officers than when I left office even though he promised 150 more. That’s not the sort of leadership our police force so badly needs.”

Responding to Mr Surl, Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson said when he took over the role in 2021, Gloucestershire Constabulary was in such a mess that the force fell into special measures.

Mr Nelson said: “Leaving aside his petty and baseless accusations for another time, it is refreshing to see that my predecessor has at last been honest with the public and admitted that he is a Liberal Democrat, despite his previous claims to be an Independent.

“He used to say that he was keeping politics out of policing but now he is revealed as a shameless political chameleon.

“When he left office, he left behind such a mess that the force fell into special measures.

“He left a hole in the force finances, didn’t know what was going on in the constabulary and failed to invest in more officers, staff and IT.”

The police and crime commissioner election will be on May 2.