Essex Police & Crime Commissioner

This week Jordan Newell, chairman of Colchester Labour Party and a former parliamentary candidate announced he is seeking the Labour nomination to be the party's candidate for the essex Police & Crime Commissioner. In this interview, he explains why he put hsi name forward.

1. How important are the new police and crime commissioner posts to voters in the south of England?

Voters in the South of England, like the rest of the UK, will be voting for a system of police governance that will usher in the biggest single reform of the police service for a generation.
However, it is important that all voters are aware of election, the role of the commissioner and the work they will be doing for their communities. As with any election, it’s important that people engage and take part. The issues for debate at these elections affect everyone, regardless of age, sex, socio-economic status, race – rising crime affects us all, low police morale affects us all and cuts to frontline services affects us all. That is why I will campaign hard in this election, whether I am the candidate or not.

2. When is the election?

England and Wales goes to the polls on Thursday 15th November 2012. They start work one week later.

3. Why are you standing?
I am proud that when the last Labour Government left office in 2010, we had 17,000 more police officers on our streets; that recorded crime had fallen by 43% during our time in office and that the fear of being a victim of crime was at a 30 year low.

Today, that legacy is under threat. We are loosing 9 out of every 10 police officers on the front line as the Government’s drastic and disastrous cuts to policing budgets take hold, sending crime soaring and morale plummeting.

I have personal experience as a victim of violent crime; I have friends and family who have been the victims of other crimes. While tackling these and supporting victims, it is important that we also engage in communities to improve reassurance and confidence for the many people who fear of being a victim of crime.

Essex needs a commissioner who is focused both protecting the public and protecting the Police. I know the people. I know the police. I know the problems faced by both. I want to use that knowledge to solve those problems and that is why I seek to serve.

4. What are your policies?

My campaign is based on three key principles – Reassurance, Reduction and Responsibility.

Reassurance - a vision based on promoting safer communities and reducing crime and disorder across the county. Commissioners must act to support local communities, at all times, to break the cycle of fear of crime; to support and address victims concerns; to be proactive in tackling crime and to help and support the Police and boast morale on the frontline.

Reduction – Working with the Police, the community, local government and statutory agencies, my campaign aims to reduce the increasing crime figures that are threatening Labour’s legacy on crime. It is a widely acknowledged fact that crime rises during a recession and the recent British Crime Survey showed that overall crime, across the spectrum of offences, had risen by 4% over the last 12 months. The Conservative Government’s policy of 20% cuts to the Police is completely the wrong approach to policing in a period of economic difficultly. During the global financial crisis in 2009, the Labour Government showed that effective police together with tough Government action and partnership working helped to stave off an increase in crime.

Responsibility - One of the Commissioners’ key functions is scrutiny and accountability. The power to hold the Chief Constable and senior offices to account is a key one. Replacing police authorities with directly-elected commissioners will make forces more accountable to the public they serve, and while Labour did not support the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioner, it is important that the process is made to work in order to ensure the good governance of the police.

5. Who are you up against?

So far, only two independent candidates have declared. I am not aware of any other Labour candidates, or candidates from the other parties.


6. Will you take the Southern Front quick-fire quiz?

Definitely!

Beatles or Stones? – I’d say the Beatles

Sherlock or Dr Who – Sherlock, but is that the Film or TV series?! The films have been amazing.

Chinese or Curry? – I have my local Chinese takeaway on speed dial!

Madonna or Lady Gaga? – The toughest questions! Can I choose both?

Ed or David? Which David? Cameron, Miliband or Steele? It would be a Miliband everytime.

North or South? – The South is where my roots are.