ALTHOUGH the residents in Somerset will not be able to elect new county councillors this year, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections for Avon and Somerset are set to go ahead on May 6.

The PCC election was delayed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, residents across the Avon and Somerset Police’s area will be able to vote for a new PCC on Thursday, May 6.

The elections for PCC are held every four years.

The Avon and Somerset PCC position has been held by Sue Mountstevens since 2012.

In January 2019, she announced she would not seek re-election for a second time.

The following candidates for the new PCC are as follows:

Somerset County Gazette:

  • Kerry Barker, Labour Party

Mr Barker is a barrister with 50 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System. He has been a school governor in three quite different secondary schools in Bristol.

He is also a Trustee and Board Member of the Bristol Drugs Project. His aim is to improve effectiveness throughout the area.

Somerset County Gazette:

  • Mark Shelford, Conservative Party

Mr Shelford was an Army officer for 30 years, as well as former deputy leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council. His main goal as PCC would be to prevent crime before it happens.

Somerset County Gazette: CANDIDATE: Heather is Vice Chair of Somerset's Police & Crime Panel

  • Heather Shearer, Liberal Democrats

Ms Shearer is vice chair of Somerset’s Police and Crime Panel, as well as a Mendip District Councillor. At the council, she is responsible for community health and safety, and is a member of the Safer Somerset Partnership.

She is also a parish councillor and plays a role in the community support group during the pandemic.

Her focus is crime prevention and building safer communities.

  • Cleo Lake, Green Party

Ms Lake was Lord Mayor of Bristol in 2018/2019, and has been an elected councillor in Bristol since 2016.

Her aim is to work with communities, for communities.

  • John Smith, Independent

Mr Smith is former Avon and Somerset Deputy PCC and stepped down from his role on March 21 2021. He was the leader of Avon and Somerset PCC’s team for eight years and became Deputy PCC in 2020.

His aim is to deliver strong, inclusive, accountable and visible local policing.

The role of the PCC is to be the voice of the community, as well as hold the chief constable to account.

They must be responsible for all areas of policing, but still allow the police service and the chief constable to operate independently.

PCC’s will work with local and national agencies to make sure that there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.

They will make sure policing meets the communities needs.

According to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, PCC’s must:

  • Secure an efficient and effective police service for their area
  • Appoint the chief constable, hold them to account for running the force and, if necessary, dismiss them
  • Set the police and crime objectives for their area through the Police and Crime plan
  • Set the force budget and determine the precept (the policing aspect of the council tax budget)
  • Contribute to national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary
  • Bring together community safety and criminal justice partners to make sure local priorities are joined up

PCC Mountstevens has regular meetings with the chief constable, Andy Marsh, to discuss local concerns and priorities, and she also keeps a public diary of her external and internal meetings.

Somerset County Gazette: STEPPING DOWN: Chief Constable Andy Marsh leaves Avon and Somerset Police in July

Chief Constable Marsh is retiring from the force this July.

READ MORE: Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Andy Marsh stepping down

While the chief constable must deliver an effective police force, the PCC will make sure the communities needs and views inform how the police service operates.

The PCC will set the police’s priorities and decide how much money the police force will be given each year to operate, as well as decide what the council tax contribution towards policing will be.

You can vote for your chosen PCC on Thursday, May 6. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

Voters have three options for casting their ballot – in person at the polling station, by post or by proxy (i.e. they can appoint someone they trust to vote on their behalf).

Somerset West and Taunton Council will be despatching postal votes from Monday, April 19.

The last date you could apply for a postal vote has now passed, but you can still apply for a proxy vote until 5pm on Tuesday, April 27.

If you have any queries regarding your right to vote, contact a member of the elections team at elections@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk.