Why should I vote for you?

I can be a strong voice for you. This role requires strength of personality, and an ability to be the eyes, ears and voice of your community. I believe I can offer you those qualities. Whilst serving as Mayor in 2006, I took an oath of impartiality – an oath that requires you to put people above any political beliefs you may hold. The same is required of the Commissioner. I would endeavour to represent you in a straightforward, honest manner – being accessible to the communities I would represent. The opinions, worries and concerns of law abiding citizens would be my priority – putting the victim at the heart of any decision making process is paramount.

Tackling anti social behaviour and other ‘low level’ crimes would be a priority – targeted response to prevalent crimes in specific areas is key – find out what the communities problems are, implement a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to that particular behaviour, thereby conserving resources, but re-asserting that this kind of criminality will not be tolerated. I stand for the community, not the criminal.

Should police officers be armed?

Absolutely not. We have specialised firearms units, we do not need to arm our police constables.

Do you agree with the decriminalisation of drugs?

No. Cannabis is a ‘gateway’ drug – my own family have seen the devastation that this drug exacts on its habitual users. It may be the ‘fashionable’ response to agree to decriminalisation, but when you have seen first hand what happens to people who are addicted to cannabis, you would never call it a ‘soft drug’.

Should householders have greater powers to tackle burglars?

If you make a decision to break into someone’s property, then you take your chances. It is my belief that your ‘human rights’ are left behind on the pavement, the moment you enter another persons home. What happens to you inside is of your own making.

What will be your top priority?

To listen to the views, and opinions of the people I will represent. To maintain our police service at its current level and work on reducing our residents ‘fear of crime’. By looking carefully at the assets the constabulary holds, investigating ways of freeing up some of those assets, encouraging further collaboration with other forces in order to reduce costs, and looking at further service agreements to get more PCSO’s working within our neighbourhood policing units.

How do you envisage using the power to commission policing services from the chief constable or other providers, and what risks do you foresee?

I see this as an opportunity, not a risk. Collaboration with partnerships outside of the force, building bridges with community and voluntary organisations, and working with our community safety partnerships is highly beneficial. Costs can be reduced, effective practice expanded and maintained. Communication – if we communicate and facilitate communication at all levels, then this role will work.

What would you hope to achieve in your first 100 days in office?

To hold my first surgery. That would be one of my top priorities. To compile a list of ‘hot spot’ anti social behaviour areas – what crime is being perpetrated and in what location? Instigate an immediate, targeted, zero tolerance approach – in the 21st century we have to be pragmatic, there are not the resources to use a ‘blanket’ zero tolerance approach, however, by pinpointing what crime is happening where, and focusing on a particular problem in a particular area, for a particular length of time, we can send out a clear and resounding message that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.

What electoral promises will you make regarding the fear of crime, which continues to rise despite the reductions in actual crime?

None of the candidates can make ‘promises’ – these are completely uncharted waters, the role is new, to make ‘promises’ would be disingenuous. ‘Fear of crime’ is something that blights many of our older resident’s lives.

Simple effective measures like shock alarms and door chains can make an older person feel safer. Imagine a PCSO knocking on the door and offering to fit those security measures for residents? A simple, low cost task, which would connect a PCSO with the community, an extra opportunity for them to get to know the people in their neighbourhood.

That is how we should be using the PCSO. In some areas we are – they have become an integral part of policing in Congleton for example. The PCSO’s are highly visible within the community, undertaking a wide and varied number of tasks, including community meetings and visits to local school’s to discuss ‘stranger danger’ and the like. Publicising positive messages about the community, as opposed to always highlighting the negative events that occur. The more we focus on the negative, the more we re-assert that in minds of the public. We live in a lovely part of the world; we should celebrate that a little more.

Police authorities have been criticised for being invisible. How will you visibly connect with all the diverse communities of your area and bring democratic accountability to life?

Get out of the office and onto the streets of our towns and villages, it is as simple as that. The only way you can be accessible is to meet people face to face. Surgeries are an integral part of this. Visits to sheltered housing, schools, colleges, businesses, libraries, the local pub – go where the community go – do not put a barrier between you and them – they have to see that you can represent them in the way in which they would wish, you can only do that by being a visible presence in their every day lives.

How do you propose to address the issue of rural communities where there is a minor police presence?

Rural communities always have a strong, beating heart – whether it is the local pub, the local post office, the village school; by using innovative, cost free, public meeting places, you could ensure that our rural communities always feel connected to the commissioner. Rural communities usually have very low instances of criminality, however, that does not mean that they should never see a police officer or have the opportunity to attend a commissioner surgery. They will have problems and concerns; they will just be different to those in urban areas. It all comes back to communication, collaboration and having the ability to listen and learn.