Candidates in final push before May 5th PCC Election

29 Apr Candidates in final push before May 5th PCC Election

29/04/2016

THE election of a new police and crime commissioner for Essex will take place on Thursday, May 5.

Tory Nick Alston, who was elected as the county’s first commissioner in 2012, is not seeking re-election, and five candidates are in the running to succeed him.

The role, which includes the power to hire and fire the chief constable, is aimed at holding the police force to account.

The new commissioner will have to preside over major cuts to Essex Police’s budget, with a series of reductions in officer numbers and stations already announced as part of a bid to slash costs by £63 million by 2019/20.

We meet the five people in the running and finds out what they will do if they’re elected.

ROGER HIRST (Conservative)

Background: Essex county councillor responsible for customer services until he stepped down to focus on his election campaign. He said: “I have held public office as a cabinet member where I led the Essex Safer Communities Strategy. Also I ran our libraries where I can proudly say we cut costs but not our service to the public. And I have 30 years experience as a leading financial analyst working for major banks – I will not waste your money.”

KEVIN McNAMARA (Lib Dem)

Background: Grew up in Ilford, attending Goodmayes Primary School. He went to secondary school in Romford before attending sixth form college in Havering. He has lived in Thurrock since 2007. A philosophy graduate from Kent University, Mr McNamara has also studied justice and policing. He has taken a break from his career in micro-finance to fight the election.

BOB SPINK (Ukip)

Background: Formerly served in the RAF and first became Tory MP for Castle Point in 1992. Failed to gain re-election in 1997 but became the constituency’s MP again in 2001, until 2010. In 2008 he resigned from the Conservatives and became Ukip’s first MP. Mr Spink has pointed to his role in helping develop laws on anti-social behaviour and drugs as evidence of his suitability for the commissioner role. He was a parliamentary private secretary in the Home Office during his time as a Tory, and frequently points to audits which showed him to be the country’s “hardest working MP” while he was in Parliament.

MARTIN TERRY (Independent)

Background: An independent Southend borough councillor for the last 13 years. Mr Terry is currently councillor responsible for public protection, waste and transport. He said: “Having been born, lived and worked most of my life in Essex, I know the whole county well. I understand the make-up of the county in all its individual and unique communities, so I will not have a parochial mind set.”