Meet your Police and Crime Commissioner candidates for Wiltshire
The local elections are looming!
Last updated 4th May 2021
On Thursday (6th May) Wiltshire residents will be able to cast their votes for the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire.
Whoever ends up winning will replace Angus Macpherson, who is stepping down from the role which he has held for 9 years.
Mr Macpherson's predecessor will be announced on Monday, once the voting count is done.
There are six candidates up for the role.
JUNAB ALI
Junab Ali is standing as the Labour and Co-operative Party candidate.
If elected, he says one of the first issues he's wants to fix is fairer funding:
"One of the first problems I shall undertake is trying to get a fairer funding for the Wiltshire and Swindon Police area as this drives the ability of the police force to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Despite every MP for our PCC area being Conservative, a Conservative PCC being in place for 2 terms, both councils for Wiltshire and Swindon being Conservative controlled and Conservative controlled governments for over 10 years, no progress has been achieved on this and I will seek to remedy this."
JULIAN HENRY MALINS
Julian Malins Q.C is the Reform UK candidate.
He says:
"Why am I seeking election as your PCC? I am not a career politician. I am a Queen’s Counsel. But we all sense that our criminal justice system and indeed, our freedoms, are at a critical stage. Crime is always with us, but it can be reduced and criminals deterred. Police funds are finite. That means, we must set priorities. Not those passing fads, which we are told we should want, but those you actually want. Morale in your police force, coupled with the support of the law abiding public are vital objectives. They come from leadership. Our county is not immune from organised crime, nor from internet fraud, indeed in the latter case we are probably more vulnerable than most London boroughs."
BRIG OUBRIDGE
Brig Oubridge is the Green Party candidate.
If he is elected next week, he promises to get rid of the Police Commissioner job:
"Overseeing policing is too important to be left in the hands of any one individua. It is wrong in principle that any police force should be answerable to just one person, representing only their own personal point of view, or that of a single political party.
If I am elected on May 6th, I will not accept the £85,000 annual salary. I promise that I will not take a single penny for myself, except for actual out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, I will use the money to fund the costs of the new Advisory Panel which I intend to set up."
LIZ WEBSTER
Representing the Liberal Democrats is Liz Webster.
She says that she knows the horrors victims face all too well after her son Henry suffered brain damage after being attacked by a hammer in 2007:
"The current system isn’t working. Drug crime is sky rocketing, dog theft is increasing, cases of domestic violence are increasing, as is cyber-crime, and anti-social behaviour. Yet Wiltshire remains one of the lowest funded police forces in the country, despite covering one of the largest areas. Wiltshire needs someone who will fight for funding and stand up against the Conservative cuts that are supported by Conservatives at Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and by Wiltshire’s Conservative MPs. My plan for Wiltshire will put community policing at the heart of crime prevention. I will explore options to keep police stations open and look into shopfront policing to maintain a visible police presence in Wiltshire."
JONATHON SEED
Looking to replace the current Conservative candiate is Jonathon Seed.
He has a long list of ideas for the role including:
"I will put an extra 100 officers into our communities on top of the numbers the government is providing. I will provide strong governance so that our frontline officers and staff know they are fully supported.
I will ensure that all home burglaries are investigated and homeowners receive a proper follow up. Local people want a better response to burglary and an end to just being issued with a crime reference number."
MIKE REES
Mike Rees in an Independent candidate.
He says:
"I stand as an Independent candidate with 30 years of policing experience and no political allegiance. I will serve you with honesty, integrity, and transparency. I will listen and be your voice in policing. I will work for you, the people of Wiltshire, to do the right thing for you."
For full details of each candidate, visit choosemypcc.org.uk.