Independent Sarah Flannery has announced her intention to stand for election as Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on Thursday 15th November 2012 making it a three person race.
Sarah is the third candidate, so far, to put herself forward for the role of Cheshire's first PCC - who will decide policing strategy, set the budget for the force and have the authority to hire and fire the Chief Constable.
Business owner Sarah of Davenham, has lived and worked in Cheshire for 30 years and has been heavily involved with community activities and issues during that time.
She said "I am standing as an Independent because I believe the role of the PCC is about putting the public, not a party, at the heart of policing.
"The new position of PCC is to be a voice for the people, representing them and their concerns to make sure the policing needs of the many and varied communities which make up Cheshire are met to reduce crime – and to hold the police to account for meeting those needs."
Sarah will be up against Conservative candidate John Dwyer and Labour candidate John Stockton.
John Dwyer retired 11 years ago as Assistant Chief Constable of the Cheshire Constabulary. His 30 years of police service saw him serve in Nottinghamshire and the West Midlands before he arrived in Cheshire in 1994. Since retirement John has set up and runs several of his own businesses including a corporate security consultancy and investigation company. He was a Councillor on the Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, before its move into the Cheshire East Council, and for 3 years held the cabinet portfolio for Safer Communities on that council.
John Dwyer commented "This new Police and Crime Commissioner role will have an impact on all residents within Cheshire and I am determined, if elected in November, to make a real difference to the lives of local people.
"Cheshire is my home and I know that it is one of safest places to live and work. The police have worked hard across the Force Area to deliver an overall reduction in crime in recent years. That doesn't mean to say it isn't without serious problems and I regard this new role as a great opportunity to take the improvements we have seen in tackling crime and community safety to the next level.
"I was proud to serve in the police service for thirty years and I have a strong understanding of the challenges faced within Cheshire. I believe the role of Police and Crime Commissioner will improve accountability and provide a platform to tackle waste and bureaucracy, allowing our officers to get back on the streets tackling crime.
"The Cheshire Force Area includes around 800,000 registered electors. Between now and November I will devote my time to visiting communities across Cheshire to listen and engage with local residents and to hear their concerns and priorities for their neighbourhood. I will be a strong and practical voice for all Cheshire residents."
Labour candidate John Stockton has served as a Labour Councillor for ten years. He is an executive board member for Halton Borough Council, with responsibility for managing a £120 million budget, and previously worked as a teacher for over 30 years. He was a senior head of department in a large comprehensive school in Knowsley.
John Stockton said: "I'm honoured to have been selected as Labour's candidate for the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner role. I will not stand by and let the Tories and Lib Dems become cheerleaders for police cuts in Cheshire.
"Since coming in to office this Tory-led government has attacked the police and undermined the fight against crime. Police budgets have been cut by 20% and in four years here in Cheshire we will lose nearly 250 police officers, despite having a force of less than 2,000 police.
"The Government should be trying to fight crime and support the police. Instead, they are cutting police and don't have an effective plan to reduce crime. This is completely outrageous and I will do all I can to protect our police force here in Cheshire.
"The government need to realise that you don't cut crime by cutting police; instead you undermine the police's ability to fight crime by cutting essential staff."
Photos: Sarah Flannery, Independent candidate for Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Click 'next photo' or watch slideshow for photos of John Stockton and John Dwyer.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
There is far too much potential for bias in such an arrangement.
Any new Police Commissioner must be seen to be independent.
I am proud to have served the people of Cheshire alongside John Dwyer;;and would say to all concerned, that "Poacher turned Gamekeeper" is the strongest possible influence that can be brought to bear on the public requirement of the Police Service in Cheshire. Political Councillors with no knowledge of the Police service will, in my opinion, try to score points for their vested interests
The Police are a precepting body and so the Police Commissioner will set the amount added to your Council Tax without it having to be approved by Cheshire East Council. The Police have a history of demanding much higher Council Tax increases than either the Fire Authority or the Council. I don't see a former Police officer making that change.
I have no confidence that Dwyer will make any useful changes.
His selection as a candidate was entirely arcane. There was no publicity within the Conservative Party telling members that candidates were being sought and only was selection meeting was held in our area.