Labour's John Tizard is new Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner
He takes control from the Conservative's Festus Akinbusoye
Last updated 3rd May 2024
Labour's John Tizard has won the Police and Crime Commissioner election for Bedfordshire.
The four candidates to be Bedfordshire’s PCC, including John Tizard (Labour) were Waheed Akbar (Workers Party), Festus Akinbusoye (Conservative), Jas Parmar (Lib Dems).
Outgoing PCC Festus Akinusoye has held the role since 2021.
While a conservative has been in the role since 2016.
Mr Tizard won by a majority of 40,738 votes.
Manifesto
Labour’s candidate said the police and crime commissioner (PCC) election is about a safer Bedfordshire – which requires action by central government and by the PCC and the police.
John Tizard said his campaign refers to the “failure of 14 years of Conservative government and to eight years of Conservative PCCs”.
“I think it is quite legitimate to point out the failings of the Conservative government and the Conservative candidate, who is my main opponent in this election,” he said.
“There have been significant failures, locally too and our leaflet points both those out.
“In terms of my performance, I will want to be absolutely transparent about what the level of performance is,” he said.
If elected Tizard said he would undertake a “proper comprehensive objective review” of some of the key performance statistics.
“And then I would expect to report on those quarterly, six monthly or annually depending what the statistics are, and to be held to account for that,” he said.
“I’ve also said I’d be open not only to scrutiny by the Police and Crime Panel, but by local authority councillors as well.
“And I would expect to hold public meetings around the county which I’m calling Challenge and Accountability Meetings, where I would expect us to go and explain what has happened both across the country and more locally, and to be held accountable for that.
“And in the same way, I will be holding the chief constable to account for the performance of the police service and against the police and crime plan,” he said.
“I really do believe in accountability, transparency and information on the performance of both the PCC and the police is something which is absolutely a prime duty for a PCC,” he said.
The PCC is already held to account by the Police and Crime Panel, so what is wrong with how it has scrutinised the PCC in the past?
“I think the Police and Crime Panel could be more robust,” Tizard said.
“Although they have called out the current PCC Festus Akinbusoye for some fairly serious charges in respect of the Nolan Principles and behaviour.”
It was pointed out that Akinbusoye has not yet responded to the panel’s findings, and the complaints process is only part way through.
“My understanding is that this was held in March, so there’s been plenty of time for the PCC to have responded.
“And indeed he has responded, I saw today April 25 he refutes the claims, so I regard that as a response.
“The matter has been raised in the House of Commons this morning by Sarah Owen Labour MP for Luton North so it’s getting some traction.
“I’m surprised it’s taken from March until now for this to emerge, and that it wasn’t published by the panel earlier or the process completed earlier,” he said.
Tizard said if elected he will deliver an “outstanding” police service for Bedfordshire.
“Throughout this campaign, and increasingly when I am talking to people whether it’s on the doorstep, or in other settings they’re finding strong support for my mission and for my policies,” he said.
“And I think there’s a feeling that it’s time for change, both in Bedfordshire and nationally.”
The role of a Police and Crime Commissioner
According to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, their role is: "to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing.
"PCCs aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their police force area. They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the force to account, making the police answerable to the communities they serve.
"PCCs ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and are improving local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust. They work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime."