The four candidates for next month’s Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner election have been announced.
There are four candidates for the role to be the residents’ voice for policing matters, set the policing budget, and to hold the chief constable to account.
The four candidates listed in alphabetical order:
Waheed Akbar – Workers Party [of Britain]
The Workers Party of Britain has yet to respond to an interview request from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
But a Facebook post reports that the former Luton mayor pledges to “tackle the pressing issues of rising knife crime, drug-related offences, burglaries, domestic violence, and gang culture in Bedfordshire”.
Festus Akinbusoye – Conservative
Mr Akinbusoye is seeking re-election as the county’s PCC having been elected in 2021.
On his election material he has pledged to: “Investment in community-based and community-led policing for urban and rural areas; recruitment and retention of police officers; tackling the causes of crime and breaking the cycle of re-offending; placing residents and victims at the centre of policing priorities; multi-agency and transparent approach to community safety and crime reduction; transparency and open communication; and national contributions.”
Jasbir Singh Parmar – Liberal Democrat
This is Mr Parmar’s second attempt as a Lib Dem candidate, having stood in 2021.
If elected his pledges are to: deliver “real community and neighbourhood policing”, overcome “the scandal of empty police stations and cop shops”, streamline the PCC’s office operations making savings “to protect
the frontline”, and campaign for fair funding for Bedfordshire.
John Tizard – Labour & Co-operative Party
Mr Tizard served as a county councillor on the former Bedfordshire County Council for 18 years, and was a member of the Bedfordshire Police Authority (with the PCC role replaced).
His priorities for policing in Bedfordshire include: a return of “effective and visible” neighbourhood policing, reducing violence against women and children, reducing hate crime, tackling antisocial behaviour, and an “emphasis” on crime prevention and wider social injustice.
The Bedfordshire PCC election will be held on Thursday, May 2.
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