Polls open to decide West Mercia's next Police and Crime Commissioner
Six candidates are vying to become West Mercia’s next Police and Crime Commissioner, as residents in the force area today go to the polls.
The candidates are: John-Paul Campion (Conservative), Peter Jewell (UKIP), John Watson Raine (Green Party), Margaret Rowley (Liberal Democrats), Barrie Sheldon (Independent) and Daniel Walton (Labour).
To find out more about each candidate visit https://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/area/west-mercia
The role of Police & Crime Commissioner was created in 2011 under new legislation - the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act. This reform allowed the former Police Authorities to be replaced with newly-elected PCCs, and the first elections were held in late 2012.
Independent, Bill Longmore. became the first elected PCC for the West Mercia police force area in November 2012.
The West Mercia PCC holds our police force to account for delivering the kind of policing you want to see. Their aim will be to cut crime and to ensure your police force is effective.
PCCs bring a public voice to policing and they do this by:
- Engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set police and crime plans;
- Ensuring the police force budget is spent where it matters most
- Appointing, and where necessary dismissing, the chief constable
Work with others
PCCs also work with local council's and other organisations to promote and enable joined up working on community safety and criminal justice. The PCC does not ‘run’ the police force. Chief constables are responsible for the day to day operations of the police, but they are accountable to the public via the police and crime commissioner.
PCCs ensure an effective policing contribution alongside other partners to national arrangements to protect the public from other cross-boundary threats.
Represent the entire community
PCCs are required to swear an oath of impartiality when they are elected to office. The oath is designed so that PCCs can set out publicly their commitment to tackling their role with integrity. It reflects the commitment police officers make to serve every member of the public impartially and makes clear that they are there to serve the people, not a political party or any one section of their electorate.
Polling stations opened at 7am and stay open until 10pm.
