At a meeting of Conservative Party members last night, 22nd January, in St Ives, Jason Ablewhite was readopted as the Conservative Candidate for the 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner elections, receiving overwhelming support in the ballot.

Jason, who was elected in 2016 after the retirement of Sir Graham Bright, the County's first PCC, said he was humbled by the size of the vote for him – by tradition, the actual figure for the result is never given.

Earlier, he had explained his record since coming into office:

• Strengthening frontline policing There will be 1,496 police officers by 31st March, the highest level in the force's history, surpassing the 2009 record of 1,402 officers.
• Strengthening the fight against rural crime Continuing to emphasise the importance of rural policing and prosecution of offenders who steal valuable equipment and who hare course by seizing their cars, their phones, their dogs and sending them to court.
• Victim support Funding specialist services for young victims and witnesses of domestic abuse, survivors of sexual violence, victims of stalking and harassment and the Victims and Witness Hub (which James set up).
• Awarding of grants For organisations who contribute to crime and disorder reduction.
• Meeting the public Regularly 'out and about' with police officers, attending public meetings, quarterly phone-in on Radio Cambs, bi-monthly surgeries and as the guest speaker at many of our own events.

The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Police and Crime Commissioners have responsibility for delivering an efficient and effective police service in their area. Commissioners set police and crime objectives, the police budget and issue crime and disorder reduction grants through the Police and Crime Plan.  Commissioners also hold the police to account, making them answerable to the public.

A Commissioner’s role is to support and, when necessary, challenge the Chief Constable. They must also work with local agencies such as local authorities, health, the Probation Trust, fire and rescue service and the criminal justice system, to ensure there is a joined-up approach to preventing and reducing crime.

The Commissioner is ultimately held to account for performance by the public every four years through the ballot box. However, a Police and Crime Panel, made up of representatives from each of the city, county and district councils along with two independent members, also considers in public how the Commissioner delivers his functions. The Panel scrutinises the Commissioner’s exercise of his statutory functions – but does not scrutinise the Chief Constable.

------

Jason Ablewhite

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire
Hinchingbrooke Park
Huntingdon
PE29 6NP

0300 333 3456
[email protected]

Website – home page
Website – contact page