Who's standing to be Cambridgeshire's police and crime commissioner?
The candidates are standing for election on 2nd May
Last updated 29th Apr 2024
Three people are hoping they will be named as Cambridgeshire's next police and crime commissioner.
Elections are taking place on Thursday, 2nd May and those standing will learn their fate the day after.
What is a police and crime commissioner?
Police and crime commissioners (PCC) are elected to hold your police force to account, including the chief constable, to help deliver policing you want to see.
They aim to ensure your police force is effective, cutting crime and engaging with local communities and victims of crime to set up police and crime plans.
They also make sure the policing budget for a particular force is spent in the most important areas and how much of their council tax precept should be charged.
Who are the candidates?
Darryl Preston - Conservative
Mr Preston has held the role of Cambridgeshire's PCC since 2021, and Mr Preston is also a former senior detective in the county.
His main targets include tackling rural crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as focusing on road safety and better education around knife crime.
"We've supported 69 youth projects, giving young people who may be on the cusp of the criminal justice system something good to do to keep them out of trouble," he said.
"It's the basics; we want to be able to contact the police, turn up when we need them and want them to investigate our crimes if we're unfortunate enough to be a victim.
"Preventing crime is far better than curing and mopping up afterwards. Drug crime fuels violence and causes misery, so we need to do far more education as to the risks and dangers and consequences of drugs and if re-elected, I will make that a top priority."
Anna Smith - Labour
Ms Smith, a Cambridge city councillor, is currently deputy mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
She wants to put more focus on making safer streets, tackling violence against women and girls and more funding for resources in local policing.
"(For example), things like safer parks, designing our communities so we can make things a little safer, better street lighting," she said.
"I'll fight for the resources police need to do their job; most people would say when they get a police officer visit, they get a good experience but the police are overstretched.
"With violence against women and girls but more broadly, we've started to act as if violence is inevitable and somehow it's something we have to accept and it isn't, and I think we need a fresh start."
Edna Murphy - Liberal Democrats
Ms Murphy is the current chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, served as a magistrate for 25 years and is a county councillor.
Some of her priorities include more support for victims of crime, restorative justice and better funding for police.
"I'm campaigning for fairer funding and smarter spending," she said.
"I'm determined we do what works to reduce crime, tackling prolific offenders and using proven methods like restorative justice to support victims and treat them with respect.
"Above all, police need to be much more responsive and victim focused."
How do I vote?
Polls open at 7am on Thursday, May 2, and close at 10pm.
Voters must take a suitable form of photo ID with them in order to cast their ballot in person; residents must be on the electoral roll to vote.
Applications can be made for an emergency proxy vote if, after the deadline has passed, a resident discovers they will not be able to vote in person, including for medical or employment reasons.
In such instances, residents can apply for a proxy vote until 5pm on election day itself.
What do I need to vote in person?
To vote in person at a polling station, residents will need one of the following forms of photo identification (the ID is permitted to be out of date, but must still be a good likeness ):
- UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional) or driving licence issued by European Economic Area (EEA) country, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
- UK passport or passport issued by EEA or Commonwealth country
- Blue badge
- Older person’s bus pass
- Disabled person’s bus pass
- Oyster 60+ Card
- Freedom Pass
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- Biometric residence permit
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
For more information on your vote, you can visit the Electoral Commission website.