Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner hopefuls share plans if elected on May 2

As the May 2024 elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) draw near, we invited candidates to share their perspectives and plans with LincsOnline readers.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, May 2, to decide the next Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Here’s what the Rutland candidates had to say.

The person who is elected to the role will represent the people on policing matters and hold the police to account. Their aim is to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area.

They can hire and fire chief constables, have control over police funding, and can raise taxes annually to fund the force.

With the aim of providing voters with insights into the priorities and visions of those seeking to represent their communities in matters of law enforcement and public safety, we asked each candidate to submit 200 words to illuminate their approaches to key issues.

Here’s what the candidates for Lincolnshire had to say.

David Dickason - English Democrats

The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner is to hold the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the community.

I am a retired senior police officer with many years of experience in the management of a police sector and the constraints faced by budgets.

I have the necessary understanding of Crime, Anti Social Behaviour and the effect these have on victims.

I will be tough on crime and the causes of crime.

If elected I WILL represent the community in Lincolnshire ensuring that policing is efficient and effective.

I expect to be held accountable by the community.

All unnecessary woke activity and expenditure will cease , all appointments will be based upon skill and merit, not ticking a box.

I will be seeking a return to traditional community policing and high visibility.

Initially I will undertake to review the following -

The number and role in each rank (including civilian staff), ensuring that the most is being made of the current budget to provide the maximum number of visible constables possible.

- Performance in relation to

detections of reported crime.

- Calls for assistance.

- Forensic opportunity

- Maximising partnership working.

English Democrats, more police catching criminals!

Peter Escreet - Reform UK

"I’m enthusiastic and highly motivated to take the skills I’ve developed during my career in the private sector and apply this to Lincolnshire Policing to get the best for Lincolnshire.

Below is a list of my priorities:

1. Cut all council tax towards the office of the PCC to ZERO - Saving each household £200 - £600 a year

2. Provide the People of Lincolnshire with face to face contact to address concerns/complaints about Lincolnshire Police.

3. Increase in visible Policing – “Boots on the ground”

4. Disband the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner

5. Ban all Police officers from dancing while on duty/in uniform

6. Trim the fat of “Middle Management” in Lincolnshire Police

7.Review all outsourced service to the police and make cuts across the board

8. Stop to police investigating “non-crime hate incidents” and focus on actual crimes

9. Move hiring policy away from diversity hires and university programmed graduates, to hiring the best candidates for the job.

10. Stop any Police policies that move the county towards a Police State.

11. Zero Tolerance approach to Crime

12. Stop existing Green policies or moves towards NET-ZERO

13. Stop “woke” Policing"

Mike Horder - Labour

I joined the Royal Air Force at 16 years of age, which brought me to Lincolnshire, the county which has been my home ever since.

I went on to serve 26 years in the police including uniform patrol, neighbourhood policing, firearms unit, public order, Negotiator (Hostage, Crisis, Kidnap & Extortion), Staff Officer to Assistant Chief Constable and Corporate Development.

I offer a depth of policing knowledge and experience both frontline and strategic.

My practical experience enables me to hold the force to account and drive positive improvement.

My pledges:

1. I will demand more funding from Central Government and not rest until we get it.

2. I will bring honesty & integrity to the post of PCC and rebuild trust and respect in the police service. I will be a PCC that the people of Lincolnshire can respect, trust and rely on

3. I will prioritise neighbourhood policing, to tackle antisocial behaviour and other long running embedded issues.

4. I will ensure that domestic violence is dealt with more effectively with innovative methods that create a more consistent process and integrated wraparound care for the victim and their children.

A vote for me is a vote for positive change.

Marc Jones - Conservative

I have been honoured to be your Police and Crime Commissioner since 2016. I inherited a budget of £112m and have increased that to £178m in just eight years.

Financial stability for policing is vital to the safety of our communities.

My previous priorities have all been delivered – a record number of police recruits, game changing units and innovations including – roads policing unit, drone and rural crime teams, a unit tackling drug related crime and extra police officers into neighbourhoods.

Time to build on that success – It is vital PCC and Chief Constable work together.

I recently appointed a new Chief Constable with the vision and commitment to deliver my ambitious plans to slash crime over the coming years. We will make a formidable team protecting your community.

My promise to you:

- Continue to maximise police numbers

- Visible anti-social behaviour hotspot patrols

- Making policing more visible to our communities

- Implement my plan to get 1000s of officer hours back on the streets and freed from centrally imposed bureaucracy

- Speed up investigations with costed new investment

- Continue to run arguably the best victim services in the country

Lesley Rollings - Liberal Democrat

Mrs Rollings did not respond to our request or follow-up calls to supply a statement by the deadline given. The below is taken from her page on ChooseMyPCC.org.uk and edited to our strict 200 word limit.

Lesley, a Lincolnshire resident for 33 years, has extensive experience working with the community as a district councillor over the last 18 years and as a community lead in a large school.

She has three children and her work and family experience in rural Lincolnshire has given her a good knowledge of our communities.

She is deputy leader of West Lindsey District Council and previously a County Councillor.

“When it comes to crime, talking tough is not enough,” said Lesley.

“Our communities value our police service and want to see them tackling the most serious of crimes, whilst working alongside partners to prevent crime from happening in the first place.”

Much more needs to be done to prevent criminals from reoffending.

People want to see more police officers on the streets and feel something is done when crimes are reported.

Under this Government things are getting worse.Talking about how tough you are on crime, is simply not enough.

Liberal Democrats believe the PCC is a waste of money.

The office costs and spin machine alone have cost the public £millions.

Lib Dems would redirect resources into front-line policing, tackling anti – social behaviour, victim support and crime prevention measures instead.