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Voters will get the chance to have their say on who will lead our local police forces next month.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections will be held on May 5, the second time since to new position was introduced in November 2012.

And candidates are now battling it out to lead both Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary.

Also read:

Here are the people that want your vote:

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE:

Vera Baird

Vera Baird of the Labour Party is Northumbria’s current PCC.

She said: “Northumbria has great community spirit. Since becoming Police and Crime Commissioner, I have worked closely with local residents, councillors, businesses and the voluntary sector to address your policing priorities. I’ve worked hard to ensure that tackling Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) remains high on the policing agenda. Across Northumbria, police officers and partner organisations work to ensure the minority who cause problems know their behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Our work tackling ASB has been recognised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary as being outstanding. I have also ensured that Northumbria leads the way in tackling domestic abuse and violence. A regional strategy has been implemented and police officers are better trained to offer support and advice to victims.

Neighbourhood policing is your and my number one priority, so I’ve brought police officers closer to you. Police stations have been relocated to community hubs, making police officers more accessible. All savings have been reinvested in policing.

I will always ensure that victims of crime remain at the heart of everything we do, and that they get the support they need. I’m proud that we are getting it right: we have a satisfaction rate of 91%, the highest in the country – but I want this figure even higher. Since 2010, successive Governments have cut more than £100 million from the Northumbria Police budget. Despite this challenge, I will continue to ensure that your priorities are delivered by Northumbria Police.

Northumbria deserves the very best policing. I have always tried to deliver this, and if re-elected I will continue to ensure effective policing is delivered for you and your family. I hope I can count on your support.

Stewart Thomas Hay

Stewart Thomas Hay of the Conservative Party is a retired Detective Inspector who currently works as a solicitor specialising in criminal law. He says his current profession means he has accumulated 40 years relevant experience giving him ‘a unique perspective into policing’, making him the ‘best person for the job’. Mr Hay’s team say he would not need a highly paid deputy and would not allow any political appointments in the Police and Crime Commissioners Office, saying; ‘the post must be made transparent.’

In addition to his normal police experience Mr hay was an elected member of the police federation, which represents rank and file officers, at three different ranks.

Stewart was born in the Northumbria Police force area and has always lived and worked here. He says he has no plans to ever move away and is very aware of local issues, and the ‘cosmopolitan mix of our communities.’

He lists his main priorities as:

-Protecting frontline and community policing.

-Engaging with the public which so far through surveys and face to face exchanges has confirmed his priority of frontline visible police presence is what the public want putting him in perfect harmony with constituents.

-Embracing diversity not treating people the same but in accordance with their individual needs.

-Generating an atmosphere of respect between the police and public.

-Introduce innovation putting Northumbria Police at the forefront of policing.

-Create bespoke policing plan(s) catering for the differences between rural, town and city centre policing issues.

Melanie Hurst

Melanie Hurst is the UK Independence Party’s (UKIP) candidate.

She said: “I have always supported transparency in the public sector and as an elected UKIP PCC I would deliver this by representing those who elected me through a positive united approach in delivering my responsibilities by ensuring Northumbria Police are open and honest in their actions and accountable to you. I am lucky enough to represent a party that will not pressure me into political decisions; I will make decisions that are right for our communities not the politicians.

“I also have a sound working knowledge of enforcement legislative requirements and constraints in executing duties as well as experience of leading people and managing budgets, having previously worked in intelligence and enforcement as the manager of the National Identity Fraud Unit, then as the manager of a region-wide North East organised fraud team. I understand the competing priorities and demands encountered when trying to deliver government targets against a backdrop of budget reductions and staffing issues.

“I would like to see more done for victims of sexual abuse, assault or exploitation, such as more accessible services for both children and adults to be able to report incidents through. I believe there’s a need for this type of service and that it could be developed and led by Northumbria Police Force working in conjunction with local authorities and other agencies to make this type of crime as easy to report as house burglary or common assault.

“A vote for another party is a vote for more of the same party politics – but I believe it’s time for change and the only party that promises change is the UK Independence Party.”

Jonathan Wallace

Jonathan Wallace, is the Liberal Democrat’s candidate.

He said: “Police officers have a tough job and they need more support. The recent increase in council tax collected by the Northumbria Force must be spent on front line policing not bureaucracy. I want to abolish the PCCs. They have been an expensive failed experiment. I’d rather have money spent on police officers than politicians and their offices.

“The police are too often tied up in red tape. We need to free them from too much time stuck behind desks to spend more time on the streets.

“I’ll also make sure we do more to stop re-offending. I will focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice so offenders pay back to victims and the local community. This would cut crime, save police time and taxpayers’ money.

“Finally, more needs to be done to stop people becoming criminals. We should identify and support at-risk teenagers and young adults before they fall into a life of crime. I gave up paid employment seven years ago to set up my own business and live the “good life” – growing my own food. This has given me a good insight into rural issues.

“I am an experienced councillor, representing a partly rural, partly suburban area on Gateshead Council, which itself covers a mainly urban area. My experience gives me a good understanding of the different issues affecting Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

“I’ll use that experience to ensure we’re doing all we can to tackle the causes of crime. With your support I’ll make sure we have an effective, well-funded police force that will help keep you and your family safe.”

DURHAM CONSTABULARY

Peter Malcolm Cuthbertson

Peter Malcolm Cuthbertson is the Conservative Party candidate.

He said: “As a Darlington man, I love our county. It is an amazing part of the best country in the world. The North East has an exciting future and growing prosperity. But we can tackle crime better. In addition to my day job in health care, I run a non-profit organisation aimed at reducing offending and reoffending. The Centre for Crime Prevention backs ‘broken windows’, zero tolerance policing and tougher sentencing for serious, repeat offenders who plague communities.

“I want to bring these insights into local policing.

“My six point plan for Darlington and Durham is:

-Greater visibility for police: Getting more police out of their offices and cars so they are patrolling a beat on foot. This lets police really get to know the local community, who the troublemakers are, and pick up local knowledge.

-Slash needless bureaucracy and paperwork: Work with police and use new technology to cut red tape.

-Implement ‘broken windows’, zero tolerance policing: Tackling anti-social behaviour and so-called ‘low level’ crimes is key to making local communities safer.

-Campaign for much tougher sentences for serious, repeat offenders: Appeal to the Attorney General against lenient sentences and encourage prosecutors to pursue the toughest charges. -Invest in victim support, assisting victims in making the most persuasive statements before the courts.

-Avoid treating the motorist as a cash cow: Speed cameras should be used only to tackle serious speeding – not to get more revenue from the motorist.

-Go on patrol with local police at least one day per week:

-Publish all expenses online.

“I will be the public’s representative to the police, not the other way round. I will be relentless in tackling anything that gets in the way of cutting crime.”

Ron Hogg

(Image: John Giles/PA Wire)

Labour Party candidate Ron Hogg is Durham’s current PCC.

He said: “I would like to begin by thanking those of you who voted for me in 2012. I said then that I wanted to build a strong police force which delivered an excellent service, as many of you will know Durham Constabulary has been judged as the best Force in England and Wales. Much of this success has been achieved through close working with our communities and I remain committed to that. This success has been achieved in spite of the savage Government cuts to our budget. We have lost over £20m, over 300 police officers and hundreds of police staff.

The next four years will be challenging, but with your support we can ensure that we continue to provide a policing service of the highest quality.

“During this four years I commit as follows;

-To oppose the privatisation of policing. The police service you receive must remain publicly accountable.

-I will oppose further cuts to policing, and argue for a funding formula that delivers a fair budget.

-I will ensure that we have the right mix of skills and staff, so that we have a police service fit for the 21st century. Plans are already well developed.

-I will continue to place victims at the heart of our service, ensuring the highest quality of service to victims of crime and anti social behaviour.

-I will seek to protect the vulnerable, ensuring that I continue our work tackling domestic abuse, violence against women and girls and the protection of victims of hate crime.

-I ask for your support to allow me to seek to deliver and excellent police service over the next four years.

Craig Martin

Liberal Democrat candidate Craig Martin has listed his top priorities for making the streets safer.

They are:

-Safeguard frontline police

-Cut re-offending

-More focus on prevention

-Police officers have a tough job and they need more support. Further policing cuts will stretch their ability to keep us safe. That’s why I’ll campaign to remove the unnecessary and overly expensive PCC role. To put money into policing rather politics.

-The police we do have are too often tied up in red tape. We need to free up the police to spend less time behind computers and more time on the streets.

-I’ll also make sure we do more to stop re-offending.

-Focusing on rehabilitation and restorative justice – so people pay back to victims and the local community – would cut crime, save police time and taxpayers’ money.

-Finally, more needs to be done to stop people becoming criminals in the first place. We need to identify and support at-risk teenagers and young adults before they fall into a life of crime.

He said: “I have worked as a local teacher and trustee of a charity that looks after 5,000 young people across the North East. I know what it takes to keep people on the straight and narrow. I’ll use that experience to ensure we’re doing all we can to tackle the causes of crime in our communities.

“For the last decade I’ve led successful local campaigns to help people across Durham and Darlington get things done and hold politicians to account. With your support on May 5 I’ll make sure we have an effective, well-funded police force that will help keep you and your family safe.”