Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner candidates
The candidates for the election on 2nd May have now been confirmed
Four candidates are bidding to be Surrey police and crime commissioner.
Residents will go to the polls to cast their vote on Thursday, May 2.
What is a PCC?
Police and crime commissioners (PCC) are elected representatives who hold police forces and chief constables to account.
The role, which has a four-year term, includes publishing a police and crime plan. This involves consulting with the public on their priorities and then explaining how they plan to address these issues.
The PCC also decides how much residents pay towards policing through their council tax.
Candidates
Kate Chinn – Labour Party
"Conservatives have lost control of crime in Surrey. Their record over the last 8 years is one of failure. Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Surrey’s towns and villages is rife. In addition to closing nearly all the police stations in the county, Conservative funding cuts have reduced the number of police and PCSOs on our streets. It is not surprising that burglaries and shoplifting have risen to unprecedented levels.
"Through my work as a psychiatric nurse, in the homelessness sector and social care, and as a local councillor, every day I see the consequences of cuts to the police budgets.
"Working with often vulnerable people, I understand the damaging impact that crime has on our communities. Surrey has been my home for over 30 years and my family, friends, and many local people say they have never known it this bad, they fear for their safety if we do not have a change.
"My priorities are clear:
- more visible community policing with a focus on making our streets safer
- preventing crime and solving more cases.
- bringing back neighbourhood police teams who know their residents and the community know them
- using empty shops give every town centre a police presence
- cracking down on crimes, particularly violence against women, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.
- tackling rural crime, animal cruelty and illegal pet farms
- ensuring Surrey police respond to 999 calls (currently they only respond to one in five calls)
- preventative measures including increasing support services for young people.
"It is time for change in Surrey. I represent a fresh start with new and innovative ideas, replacing this failing Conservative policing agenda in Surrey."
- Kate Chinn – Labour Party
Alex Foy Coley – Independent
"You will soon be asked to elect a Police & Crime Commissioner.
"I was born and raised in Surrey and live with my wife and two daughters in Epsom & Ewell. We don’t believe that 75% of women and girls feel safe after dark, like the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner says.
"Since 2018 I’ve been a borough councillor. I’m also a member of the Surrey Police & Crime Panel and my local Community Safety Partnership. I’ve been a senior police manager and I’m currently an independent adviser on policing. I also founded a local charity to help people living in deprivation in our borough. We focus on helping vulnerable children.
"Residents tell me they want ‘bobbies on the beat’ and a better response when they need help. They are fed up with the police share of council tax going up again, but not seeing police officers or PCSOs on the street. Surrey is the only police area in the country where local taxpayers contribute more to policing than the government. I’m petitioning Parliament to change this.
"Surrey Police underspent by £8.7m last year and it’s happening again this year. In December, an inspection of Surrey Police gave a rating of ‘Inadequate’ at responding to the public. I will use the £43m in the Police & Crime Commissioner’s savings account to deliver a better service. I will put the pride and professionalism back into Surrey Police, so you can have confidence in your police force.
"Let’s take party politics out of policing. I will be an Independent PCC, fighting crime with more police, keeping you safe, where you live."
- Alex Foy Coley – Independent
Paul Kennedy – Liberal Democrat
"I’m offering a fresh approach to policing and crime in Surrey – based on my extensive professional and community leadership experience, and my commitment as a Liberal Democrat to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, upheld by the rule of law.
"Like many people I disagree with the idea of PCCs, but we’re stuck with them for now (and I came a strong 2nd last time). That’s why I’m offering a professional, ambitious, community-based alternative – not more prisons, privatisation or self-promotion.
"I’ll focus on what actually works to prevent crime and keep Surrey safe:
• bringing back community policing and working with communities to tackle antisocial behaviour, road safety and rural crime
• safeguarding victims, and prioritising women’s safety, key workers and vulnerable individuals
• concerted campaigns to cut drugs, youth crime and county lines of organised crime
• tackling offending behaviour through restorative justice, education and support for mental health and addictions.
"I’ll work with and challenge police and other agencies to radically improve performance after the latest critical PEEL inspection, make every crime matter, and get justice for victims. I’ll be fiercely independent of government, demand much better value for money, and give fair, frank and balanced reports back to the people of Surrey.
"I’m a local councillor, community safety lead, and former barrister, accountant and actuary with thirty years’ professional leadership experience in both private and public sectors. I’ve a strong background in criminal law and financial management and scrutiny. For ten years I’ve provided strategic direction and independent oversight to public interest organisations on a non-political basis. I’ll hold Surrey Police to account without undermining operational independence."
- Paul Kennedy – Liberal Democrat
Lisa Townsend – Conservative Candidate - More Police, Safer Streets
"I want to be re-elected as your Police and Crime Commissioner to continue building on the improvements I have driven within Surrey Police.
"Since you elected me 3 years ago, I have worked hard to keep Surrey safe, helping secure more police officers for our county than ever before and investing in projects to support communities. I have spoken with many of you and have prioritised championing your voice and concerns.
"Surrey Police is now larger than ever, helped by funding from the Government Uplift programme, and I recruited a new Chief Constable to lead the Force who shares my commitment to a “back to basics” approach to policing.
"In 3 years, my team and I have also secured more than £10m of additional funding for our county. This has been spent supporting community projects across Surrey, including Safer Streets projects tackling anti-social behaviour and county-wide teacher training around violence against women and girls.
"In the last year alone, Surrey Police has made incredible improvements, from fulfilling recruitment targets to achieving record performance for 101 and 999 wait times.
"But there is more to be done, and I hope to continue driving improvements, listening to you, and supporting our communities.
"If you re-elect me on 2nd May, I will prioritise:
- Ensuring Surrey Police do what only they can. Investigating and solving crime, and pursuing offenders, not sitting in hospitals, or examining non-crime hate incidents.
- Being a voice for victims. Prioritising victims’ needs throughout the Criminal Justice System, continuing to commission and support services that support victims.
- Making policing accessible. Ensuring residents get swift answers from the right organisation, rather than being passed from agency to agency without resolution.
- Lisa Townsend – Conservative Candidate - More Police, Safer Streets
How do I vote?
Polls open at 7am on Thursday, May 2, and close at 10pm. Voters must take a suitable form of photo ID with them in order to cast their ballot in person (see ‘What do I need to vote?’ section below).
Residents must be on the electoral roll to vote. Register to vote online – the deadline is 11.59pm on Tuesday, April 16.
Voting by post is also an option. Applications for a postal vote must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, April 17.
Proxy votes can also be obtained in some circumstances – meaning someone else can vote on a resident’s behalf if they cannot make it to a polling station for a limited number of reasons. Applications for a proxy vote must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, April 24.
Applications can be made for an emergency proxy vote if, after the deadline has passed, a resident discovers they will not be able to vote in person, including for medical or employment reasons. In such instances, residents can apply for a proxy vote until 5pm on election day itself.
What do I need to vote in person?
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
Where do I vote?
The polling card sent to voters ahead of the election will tell them at which polling station they must cast their vote on May 2 if they are voting in person.