What do the PCC candidates think about policing?

ESSEX Police Federation has met all the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidates in the run-up to the election on 5 May.

Chairman Mark Smith took brief notes during his conversations with the five candidates and here – in three bullet points – is a brief summary of each meeting.

All candidates were asked the same questions.

Roger Hirst, Conservative

• Appeared to conform with central government policy when it comes to policing

• He wants to address anti-social behaviour, violent crime, rural crime, gangs and wants higher visibility of police officers.

• He was challenged on where the money on this would come from.

Kevin McNamara, Liberal Democrat

• Brought up the Liberal Democrat’s national stance on the legalising of class C drugs, and in Essex, should he be elected, we wouldn’t concentrate on class C drugs at all.

• Keen to address dealers, drug dealers, and gang culture.

• Didn’t speak in any depth about other areas of policing during our conversation.

Bob Spink, UKIP

• Appears to want to open front offices again in Essex.

• Only candidate to mention concerns over the EU and immigration during our meeting.

• Said he would be seen to stand shoulder to shoulder with police officers and push back against the Government.

Martin Terry, Zero Tolerance Policing

• Said that he wants more visible policing – he referred to it as frontline policing and would like to put the precept up, and up higher than is currently allowed and would be willing to take it to a public vote.

• Would like to meet with the Federation on a regular basis to hear the views of our members.

• Said he would be prepared to protect policing by standing up for officers and pushing back against the government and the IPCC should they make statements in the press that he needs to address.

Chris Vince, Labour

• Realistic about where we are with the cuts to the public services, I think that’s because he’s in teaching as well, so he was understanding, along those lines.

• He said that he would show support for police officers and the local Federation and would challenge the Government and the Home Secretary around cuts and what they’re saying in the press about crime being down.

• His main point is that he wants to concentrate on crime prevention, because we’ve got fewer officers now he would like to put more in to crime prevention and addressing problems before they become issues.
NOTE:
All candidates were asked about their knowledge of the Federation, what they see the role of Essex PCC as, what they are going to do as PCC, how they see their relationship with Essex police officers and the Federation, how they would help police officer morale and sickness levels, and if they would be prepared to challenge the Home Secretary or the government over reporting of violent crimes, assaults on police, roads and crime figures.