Candidates for the Warwickshire Police Force Area

On 6th May, you will be able to vote for your police and crime commissioner.

Find out who your local candidates are and how to vote

Contents

About Police and Crime Commissioners 02 Louis William McMaster Adam Liberal Democrat 04 Henry Lu Reform UK 06 Philip Stanley Seccombe The Conservative Party Candidate 08 Ben Twomey Labour and Co-operative Party 10 Statement by the Police Area Returning Officer for Warwickshire 12 About Police and Crime Commissioners

On 6th May, you will be able to vote for your Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The role of the PCC is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. Elections will be taking place in England and Wales. In London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, there will be elections at the same time for Mayors who exercise PCC functions. PCCs are responsible for the totality of policing in their force area and aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service. 39 PCCs will be elected across England and Wales, of which 4 are also responsible for overseeing the fire and rescue authority for their area and are called Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners (PFCC) – these PFCCs are found in Essex, Staffordshire, North Yorkshire and Northamptonshire). There will also be 3 Mayors with PCC functions elected in London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. PCCs are elected by you and aim to cut crime and hold the force to account on behalf of the public. PCCs bring a public voice to policing, and they do this by: • engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set the policing priorities for the area and consulting on their Police and Crime plans; • ensuring the police force budget is spent where it matters most; and • appointing the Chief Constable, holding them to account for delivery of their objectives and if necessary, dismissing them. Work with others PCCs, PFCCs and Mayors who exercise PCC functions also work with your council and other organisations to promote and enable joined up working on community safety and criminal justice. The PCC, PFCC or Mayor who exercises PCC functions does not ‘run’ the police force or fire service. Chief Constables and Chief Fire Officers are operationally independent, and they are responsible for the day to day operations of the police, but they are accountable to the public via the Police and Crime Commissioner.

02 PCCs, PFCCs and Mayors who exercise PCC functions are single, directly elected individuals ensuring the public are protected, providing greater opportunities for collaboration and more effective scrutiny of public services. They ensure that there is an effective policing contribution to national partnership arrangements to protect the public from other national and cross-boundary threats. Represent the entire community PCCs, PFCCs and Combined Authority Mayors who exercise PCC functions are required to swear an oath of impartiality when they are elected to office. The oath is designed so that they can publicly set out their commitment to: serve all of the people in their police force area; act with integrity and diligence; give a voice to the public; act with transparency so that they may be effectively held to account; and not interfere with the operational independence of police officers. Find your candidate This booklet contains information on the candidates standing for election in the Warwickshire police force area. You can also order a copy of this booklet in the following formats: large print, braille and audio. To place your order visit www.choosemypcc.org.uk or call 0808 196 2170. About your vote You need to be registered to be able to vote. If you are not registered visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or contact your local council. If you are registered, and eligible to vote you can either vote in person at a polling station, by post, or by proxy (allowing someone you trust to vote on your behalf). In this election you can vote for a first and second preference of who you want to win. For more information about your vote and other elections taking place on 6th May visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter

03 Louis William McMaster Adam Liberal Democrat

Election statement: Putting the community at the heart of policing Preventing crime and ensuring people feel safe is crucial to us all. We all benefit from good policing. As Police and Crime Commissioner Louis Adam would work to ensure a police force that is fit for the 21st century, in which police officers feel valued and able to focus on cutting crime and protecting people.

In Warwickshire the main focus of the Commissioner should be to:

• Protect the numbers of police officers and community support officers (PCSOs), whilst increasing police neighbourhood visibility. • Work closely with a broad range of partners, from youth services, social services and community groups to schools, the NHS and mental wellbeing professionals. • Ensure transparency and accountability in the service. • Make sure that people feel safe to report crime and that their voices are heard.

04 • Ensure value for money. As a small force Warwickshire should share services with other forces on as wide a basis as possible, both to reduce costs and ensure that the force is able to resource the specialised services that a modern police force needs.

We need a Commissioner who can represent all the people in this area and who backs research and training for our officers to support a well-run modern police service, with positive changes that work for everyone.

Louis and his wife live in Long Itchington, Warwickshire, close to where he grew up. He is a Structural Engineer in the construction industry and is a district councillor and previous Parliamentary Candidate in Warwick & Leamington in the 2019 General Election.

Building Confidence, Fairness and Trust Statement prepared by the election agent: Richard Vos, 55 Ely Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6LN.

Contact Details Website: https://warkslibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/LibDemLouisAdam Twitter: @LouisWMAdam Phone: 01789 295 970

05 Henry Lu Reform UK

Election statement: I am a law graduate, chartered management accountant and have a doctorate in engineering. I am not a career politician. This country has given me many opportunities and I would like to contribute back to it as your police and crime commissioner promoting public accountability and community safety.

In preparation for this, I have been an adviser with my local Citizens Advice South Warwickshire, helping vulnerable citizens to exercise their rights and obligations and to access justice. I have also been an institutional mentor, guiding engineers and accountants, having been awarded two professional chartered statuses in 1986 and 2012. Finally, I assisted a pension scheme trustee board in Warwick, the conclusion of which was a £2bn longevity swap to provide a sustainable long-term income for members.

As an adviser at Citizens Advice since 2012, I am acutely aware of challenges facing local residents including violent crime, antisocial behaviour, cybercrime, and most recently county drug lines, the first two being the most frequently committed crimes, totalling over 2000 cases every month since February 2018 in Warwickshire.

Whilst recognising that the PCC’s role is about police and crime, I believe it must also be about public accountability and community engagement. I therefore commit to representing 06 the views of the public of Warwickshire, influencing policing decisions and priorities, ensuring that they are getting value for money for the service they need, and ultimately, in creating an environment in which the community is safe and feels safe.

If elected, I will work every day of the term to bring about a safer and more harmonious community in which we can all be proud to live, making the people sovereign beyond each election cycle, and ultimately, changing politics for good.

Prepared by Henry Lu – Candidate 20 Tavern Lane, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 9HE

Contact Details [email protected]

07 Philip Stanley Seccombe The Conservative Party Candidate

Election statement: I was first elected in 2016 and have spent 5 years delivering my manifesto pledges.

Together we have put victims and survivors of crime at the heart of police response, re-equipped the force with up to date smart phones, body-worn video and new vehicles. Police numbers have risen from under 800 to over 1,000 in the last 2 years. Patrols, road policing, Safer Neighbourhood Teams and investigators have all been strengthened.

If re-elected I will work to improve the Force still further; tackling crime with more officers and more Special Constables.

Crime levels are lower than when I was elected, but we need to do more. I am determined to make Warwickshire safe and with your support we can work together to make your community even safer.

Overall crime has fallen during the last year as a result of increased funding and the pandemic. House burglaries, violent and vehicle crime have all fallen significantly and I intend for this to continue.

08 I persuaded the Chief Constable to set up a Rural Crime Team. This year we have doubled the Team to protect our villages and make our rural areas safer.

I am committed to making our Safer Neighbourhood Teams engage with YOU; using local knowledge to help solve local problems and to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

An extra £500,000 is being invested to reduce the number of serious incidents for example by educating younger drivers about the dangers of using a mobile phone and tackling speeding.

Grants have been awarded to support victims of domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation and violent crime. The needs of ALL VICTIMS are always at the forefront of everything we do.

Prepared by Alexander Hall on behalf of Philip Seccombe all at 3 Trinity Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6BL

Contact Details: philipseccombe.co.uk 07773 326046 [email protected] @philipseccombe www.facebook.com/Seccombephilip

09 Ben Twomey Labour and Co-operative Party

Election statement: Did you know that every single one of Warwickshire’s Domestic Abuse Risk Officers was laid off this year? That’s over 70 years’ policing experience lost.

Even after over 1,000 local people voiced their opposition, our calls to protect victims and support our key workers were ignored.

Many new police officers promised by the Government are now stuck behind desks to cover for cuts to dozens of staff. With council tax up for the fourth year in a row, you are paying more and getting less.

I’m Ben Twomey and I’m standing as your Labour and Co ‑operative Party candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner. I live in the county and grew up here, so I understand the issues we face locally.

In every year since the last election, crime has risen while victims have reported feeling less satisfied. Local people deserve better.

I have a plan to make us safer by putting police officers back on the beat, placing victims at the heart of my work, and creating new youth and community groups. I will appoint

10 Warwickshire’s first ever Victims’ Commissioner to give victims of crime a voice, and share the powers of the Police Commissioner with local people.

I am not running in this election to speak for you, but to stand with you.

I stand with residents who are calling for a proper review of street lighting in the county.

I stand with the local teachers trying to save the Marle Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning.

I stand with bereaved parents fighting for justice after their children were killed on our roads.

And if I’m elected on 6th May, I’ll stand with you too.

Statement prepared by the Election Agent Benjamin Wesson of 16 Wasdale Close, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6NF.

Contact Details: www.ben-twomey.co.uk [email protected] www.facebook.com/BenTwomeyUK

11 Statement by the Police Area Returning Officer for Warwickshire

This booklet contains more information about those candidates (where provided) and other information useful to voters. The information provided by a candidate is their responsibility, and may not reflect the opinions of myself or my council. As Police Area Returning Officer I am responsible for coordinating the election and announcing the result in Warwickshire. Police and Crime Commissioner Elections will be held in Warwickshire on 6th May 2021; the candidates standing in that election, alphabetically by surname (as they will appear on the ballot paper), are: • ADAM, Louis William McMaster – Liberal Democrat • LU, Henry – Reform UK • SECCOMBE, Philip Stanley – The Conservative Party Candidate • TWOMEY, Ben – Labour and Co-operative Party I can be contacted at: Christopher Elliott Warwick District Council, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5HZ Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 01926 456105 Website: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/localelections2021

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