Who's standing to be Northamptonshire's Police Fire and Crime commissioner?
The candidates are standing for election on 2nd May
Last updated 30th Apr 2024
Three people are hoping they will be named as Northamptonshire's next Police Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Elections are taking place on Thursday, 2nd May and those standing will learn their fate the day after.
What is a Police Fire and Crime Commissioner?
Police Fire and Crime commissioners (PFCC) are elected to hold our police force and fire service to account, including the Chief Constable, currently acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, and Fire Chief, Nikki Watson.
They aim to ensure your police force and fire service are effective at cutting crime and engaging with local communities.
It's important they make sure both the policing and fire service budget are spent in the most important areas and how much of their council tax precept should be charged.
Who are the candidates?
Ana Savage Gunn
Ana Savage Gunn is the Liberal Democrat candidate. She has a history in the emergency services joining Northamptonshire Police in 1985, rising to the rank of Inspector and later held a position as an International Law Enforcement consultant in the US.
She highlights youth work and knife crime prevention as areas deserving of more funding.
Ms Savage Gunn also stood for Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in 2021 achieving 15 per cent of the vote. She said: “Police and Fire need strong leadership, what they don’t need is another politician to lead them.”
She feels public believe in the role has been shaken and had hit morale.
Ana Savage Gunn has said "I will perform a forensic look at the £7 million that Commissioner takes straight off the top of the Police and Fire budgets." She has also said she would appoint a Chief Fire Officer that actually has fire experience.
Martyn Emberson
Martyn Emberson is the Conservative candidate. He has 34 years of experience in the Fire Service, including serving almost a decade as Northamptonshire’s Chief Fire Officer.
He also served as chief inspector of the Scottish fire service for two years.
He has listed visible policing, zero tolerance on crime, enhanced wellbeing initiatives for frontline staff and working together with the community as his priorities to make Northamptonshire safer.
Martyn Emberson says "despite a fall in offences across the county of 5% in the last year, including a drop in knife and violent crime and sexual violence, victim support needs to improve."
He has also put forward discussions for a new Police Fire and Crime Plan to address local issues.
Danielle Stone
Danielle Stone is the Labour candidate. She says her priorities include tackling the causes of knife crime, which she the closure of services for families and young people, years of austerity and the cost-of-living-crisis.
She would rallying more support for domestic abuse services and early intervention for young people.
Danielle Stone says "We have an under-resourced fire service, with fewer than half of the 28 vehicles available for use most of the time, because crew levels are so low." She also says Northamptonshire needs more police officers.
She said: “I have campaigned for safer communities for many years. It is wrong that many people feel unsafe, in their own homes, own streets, and neighbourhoods.
“We need better partnership working and closer working with local authorities.”
How do I vote?
Anyone in Northamptonshire over the age of 18 on the day of the election is eligible to vote, but you must be registered to vote.
Anyone over the age of 16 can register to vote online.
You will need to register again if you have changed your name, address or nationality.
Once you are registered you have a few options on how to vote - you can vote in person at a polling station on 2 May, by post or by proxy.
You can request a proxy vote for reasons such as being away on polling day or being registered as an overseas voter.
The proxy must be someone you trust to vote on your behalf and you will need to tell them which candidate you want to vote for, they can still cast their own vote as well.
What do I need to vote in person?
Everyone will need to show photo ID at polling stations before they vote.
To vote in person at a polling station, residents will need one of the following forms of photo identification (the ID is permitted to be out of date, but must still be a good likeness )
- UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional) or driving licence issued by European Economic Area (EEA) country, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
- UK passport or passport issued by EEA or Commonwealth country
- Blue badge
- Older person’s bus pass
- Disabled person’s bus pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
- Freedom Pass
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- Biometric residence permit
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
For more information on your vote, you can visit the Electoral Commission website.