IVYBRIDGE resident and candidate for next week’s police and crime commissioner election Gareth Derrick has sought to explain why people should turn out to vote in the poll.

The vote takes place next Thursday, May 5 and Mr Derrick, who is standing for Labour, will take on the Conservative’s Alison Hernandez, UKIP’s Jonathan Leslie Smith, Lib Dem Richard Younger-Ross, and independents Bob Spencer and William Morris.

He said: ’We candidates all know that the potential success of this election is being undermined by a lack of government publicity, and lack of information about the role and the candidates.

’Registered voters can choose from candidates, outline details of which are at www.choosemypcc.org, and they can give a second preference if they wish. But why should they bother?

’Many people have said that the role is simply an added layer of costly bureaucracy and nothing but a waste of money. Some candidates want to abolish the PCC post, but others disagree saying the PCC does not add bureaucracy or cost.

’Prior to the PCC, scrutiny of the police was conducted by the Police Authority at around 33 per cent higher costs than currently. The Police Authority lacked the very ’authority’ in its name, and did not hold the police to account on behalf of the public - but the PCC is elected, should be highly visible and is accountable.

’Others say that the PCC adds nothing. Well, ’nothing’ could be further from the truth. Setting the priorities for policing on behalf of the public is very important, and guides how £285m of your money, from tax, is being spent every year.

’But the PCC does not just allocate money to the police. He or she can commission services from many different sources, aimed at crime reduction and improving community safety. This gives the PCC the chance to reform and to innovate, working across the criminal justice system, and with the voluntary sector for example.

’An effective PCC will be able to prevent and reduce crime in many ways, by working to reduce re-offending, by supporting young adults to set their lives straight, by ensuring that gender-specific responses are available where needed, and so much more. At a cost of around £1 per person per year, the PCC is value for money.   

’Whoever is elected as PCC next week will need to commit, once in role to remain impartial and serve all of Devon and Cornwall, and to keep distanced from party politics. I ask you to vote next Thursday, thinking about the value in public and community safety, and choosing your candidate carefully.’