We put the following questions to the five candidates in the 2021 Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election, with each being asked to provide answers subject to a overall 160-word limit.
From an article in the May 2021 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (read it online).
What is your background and relevant experience?
Kerry Barker: As a barrister for nearly 50 years I dealt with the most difficult cases of abuse and sexual assaults. I also undertook judicial review cases involving challenges to public bodies such as the police and local authorities.
Cleo Lake: I am Bristol born with family connections in Somerset. I have over a decade of community work experience primarily through the arts. I was elected as a Councillor for Cotham in Bristol in 2016, served as Lord Mayor of Bristol 2018/19 and have been on the Avon Fire Authority Chairing the People and Culture Committee since its inception 2017.
Heather Shearer: I believe in transparency and fairness when it comes to spending your money and delivering your services. I already scrutinise the PCC, as vice chair of the Police and Crime Panel. I represent the public as a councillor. Through the Safer Somerset Partnership, I support multi-agency work to reduce crime and create safer communities.
Mark Shelford: I’ve sat on the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel, which monitors the work of the Police Commissioner. It’s given me a clear idea of what our local police need and how they can be more effectively managed. In my time as a soldier, I learnt what good policing looks like and how to lead people to ensure it’s delivered. As an elected local councillor, I’ve learnt how important it is to speak to residents directly to understand their issues and concerns.
John Smith: I led the Avon and Somerset PCC’s team for eight years and in 2020 I spent a year as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner to help meet the challenges of policing during the pandemic.
What are the most pressing issues in the force area?
Kerry Barker: The police are meant to prevent and solve crimes. Across the area the detection rates for crimes which affect most ordinary people (burglaries, robberies, thefts, criminal damage and violent and sexual offences) are dreadfully poor. There has been a massive increase in violent and sexual crime since 2012 when the Police and Crime Commissioner was first elected.
Cleo Lake: I believe we need transparency, supportive scrutiny and systemic reform in order to improve the police service and give value for money for our citizens.
Heather Shearer: Covid-19 has seen a rise in domestic violence, predominantly against women. We must stop the abuse before it gets dangerous. And as we emerge from lockdown we need to make sure women feel safe on our streets and in their homes. And like many people, I’ve been the victim of burglary. Recent figures suggest that just 1 in 10 burglars are brought to justice. I want to invest more in our community police teams to improve this.
Mark Shelford: Anti-social behaviour, burglary (often related to ‘county lines’) and dangerous driving, along with the hidden crimes of domestic abuse and cyber fraud.
John Smith: Central government funding has been cut by 30 percent over the last ten years, resulting in 800 fewer police officers in Avon and Somerset. This has been a huge challenge and has meant difficult decisions on what to prioritise have had to be made.
What are your key policies for delivering change?
Kerry Barker: If elected, I will:
- Improve neighbourhood policing with more officers dedicated to community policing (more police officers on the beat in your area);
- Stop the closure of police stations; and
- Bring back the specialist teams of detectives.
At the heart each of those priorities will be the safety and welfare of all women
Cleo Lake: My priorities include:
- Better action on domestic violence, hate crime, internet fraud and road safety
- A preventable approach to crime and to resource interventions
- Reduce the disproportionate use of Stop and Search in part by developing new guidelines on policing of personal cannabis use
- Improve diversity and gender balance
- Review and resource the Independent Advisory Groups and set up a youth led IAG
- Complete setting up of the ethics committee and support their work
Heather Shearer: Policing is just one element in public safety – we need to work with community groups, health and social care agencies, education, probation to prevent crime and protect vulnerable people.
Mark Shelford: I want to return to the Peelien principles of policing, the most important of which is: “The goal is preventing crime, not catching criminals. If the police stop crime before it happens, we don’t have to punish citizens or suppress their rights. An effective police force doesn’t have a high arrest rate; its community has low crime rates.”
John Smith: With additional Government funding now promised for extra police officers, I would ensure these new officers once recruited would tackle areas that local people have told me need focus such as cyber crime, fraud, rural crime and business crime. In addition, my immediate priorities if elected would be:
- Supporting the police to enforce Covid-19 regulations appropriately so we can get back to living normally as soon as possible
- Protecting the most vulnerable in society and supporting victims
- Tackling burglary, knife and drug crime