On Thursday, 5th May local people will take to the polls to elect an Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner.

To help the undecided, this week The Journal spoke to all of the candidates to find out a little more about them and their policies. The post could very well change in future years, with a current Police and Crime Bill being discussed by Government which could see more collaboration between the emergency services – your vote and how you choose is important.

Kerry Barker - Labour

Kerry is an experienced Bristol-based barrister, with an expertise in criminal cases involving abuse of children, young and older vulnerable adults, the elderly and sufferers of dementia. He has also spent over twenty years running magistrates’ courts. Kerry was not driven by party political ideology, but genuine distress and concern about the way that local policing was going. People in rural areas believe that the police have no interest in crime in their communities. In dealing with the crimes that come to me to prosecute, I see the consequences of under funding with good officers with too heavy workloads, being asked to deal with matters without the necessary expertise and without much needed technical resources.

Chris Briton - Green Party

Green Party Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate, Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Cllr Chris Briton, former Mayor of the City of Wells, worked as a Probation Officer in Berkshire and Somerset and also managed Turning Point, the drug and alcohol advisory service in Somerset, before managing a children’s centre in Frome. He recently retired from Somerset Youth Offending Team where he worked as a specialist drug and alcohol officer.

Chris says his first priority for the role will be improving the protection of children and young people from physical abuse, neglect and sexual harm, with the second being reducing drug related offending and the risks and harm associated with substance misuse.

Paul Crossley - Liberal Democrat

Paul Crossley was Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council from 2002–2007 and 2011–2015. Throughout his time as Leader, he worked closely with the Police on issues affecting the authority area. He says he will bring much-needed stability to the Avon and Somerset Police after a hectic four years and wants to work with other agencies to ensure that people with mental health issues are treated by the appropriate service. He wishes to increase the use of restorative justice in the community and review the policy of selling police stations and rehousing them in remote locations. Under Paul’s Leadership, B&NES integrated Health and Social Care services with the formation of the Community Interest Company, Sirona.

Aaron Foot - UKIP

As a farmer and having grown up in the Avon and Somerset area, I have seen how we have been let down by the severe cuts to policing budgets. I feel we deserve the opportunity to have a different type of person representing our interests, working with police forces across the region to deliver outstanding levels of service. I am proud to stand under the UKIP banner; the key part in the name for me is the word “Independence”. I am free from the bounds of a party whip. I will stand up for what is right for the people of Avon and Somerset and ensure they have a voice. My focus will be on improving policing in local communities, and raising public confidence with transparency, accountability and community involvement.

Sue Mountstevens - Current Commissioner

Elected in November 2012.

Government cuts have hurt the police and more cuts are threatened. I want to keep party politics out of policing.

We need strong local police teams, we need to share stations with fire and ambulance.

I want the police to share back offices with other police forces, so that we can reinvest and tackle abuse of children, crimes against our most vulnerable and get better at tackling internet crime.

Kevin Phillips - Independent

Kevin is a recently retired police officer after 26 years. He was also the Chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation from 2009 until last year. He says: “I believe politics has

no place in the independent role of policing.”

“If elected as PCC, I want to reverse the loss of 700 Police Officers over the last few years and put Policing back into the heart of communities.

“I will put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system, re-focus on Neighbourhood Policing and protect the protectors.”

Mark Weston - Conservative

Putting the community at the heart of policing. The current priorities are wrong.

We need to be protecting the front line, rather than inflating the back office.

I want to work with our neighbouring Constabularies in order to share support services whilst investing in front line policing – ensuring we marry the best of traditional policing with 21st century technology.

I want to bring back visible neighbourhood policing to work with local residents to cut crime and tackle anti-social behaviour.