THE election for the county's Police and Crime Commissioner will be held on Thursday. We will be publishing the candidates' manifestos, starting today with Victoria Atkins, the Conservative candidate for Gloucestershire.
I want to make Gloucestershire safer, while securing value for taxpayers' money.
I believe that the commissioner can be a real force for good in Gloucestershire.
My background as a criminal barrister means that I understand how the criminal justice system works, I lead teams of police officers in fighting crime and I speak up for the decent, law-abiding majority.
I want to use my experience to represent the public and help the police do an even better job. I have visited every corner of the county, listening to people.
I believe we should do more for victims of crime. I want to encourage people to report crime, to make the legal process easier for victims and to ensure that justice is done.
I pledge to hold the police and CPS to account in their treatment of victims, and to ensure that victim impact statements are used when appropriate.
Too often, rural communities are overlooked. I will introduce parish constables, special constables who work with their neighbours to look after our villages and farms.
I also want to build on the success of rural watch to tackle cross-border crime gangs.
Our urban areas should be thriving and safe. I want to build on the success of Neighbourhood Watch, Paws on Patrol and Operation Scorpion, to encourage residents to help detect and deter crime.
Drunken, yobbish behaviour will not be tolerated. Too many people endure anti-social behaviour night after night.
I want to build on the success of Project Solace and The Aston Project to target those who make others' lives a misery.
The fear of crime can be as corrosive as crime itself. I think more can be done to improve police visibility, getting them out of their cars and talking to residents and businesses.
I want to secure value for taxpayers' money. I will use my commercial experience to ensure taxpayers' money is spent wisely, and to lead effective crime prevention and community safety strategies.
This is a wonderful county; I want to work with you and the police to make it safer.
â Tomorrow, see the manifesto from Liberal Democrat candidate Alistair Cameron.
