Essex PCC candidates quizzed ahead of election - part one

Ahead of the vote the Guardian has interviewed each of the five candidates, one of whom will replace outgoing Conservative PCC Nick Alston.

The five candidates are Martin Terry for Zero Tolerance Policing, Liberal Democrat candidate Kevin McNamara, Chris Vince of the Labour party, Conservative candidate Roger Hirst and Bob Spink for the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

• Do you support the recent closure of front desks at stations such as Epping and Loughton?

MT: I do not support the withdrawal of services, be that front line policing or front desks. These desks are only being closed due to a shortage of funds and the chief constable has admitted to me in public that he regrets the cuts being forced on him due to lack of funds.

KM: Absolutely not. Whilst I understand the pressures on police budgets, I do think that with the huge cutbacks of frontline and neighbourhood policing that local communities need a local presence to feel close to and trust Essex Police.

CV: I oppose the government cuts to policing in general and it is very sad to see front desks closing as I believe it is very important for the public to be able to have access to report crime. However, as PCC I must work within the budget that I have been given and my priority would be frontline policing working in local communities.  Unfortunately at the moment we have seen a cut in policing numbers and also front desks. As PCC I will do what I can to protect those front desks that remain and also seek to strengthen front line policing, although recognise with the budget as it is this will not be easy.

RH: The important thing is making sure that police officers are out on patrol and are visible and accessible. The police station front desks have been little used by the public, and it will be better to have new community policing hubs, where residents can access the police in well-used town centre environments such as town halls and libraries.

BS: Absolutely not. I pledge to reopen police front desks.

• Will you work with your chief constable to bring back police support for vital community events such as the Remembrance Parade in Epping?

MT: Yes, Essex Police should have the ability and resources to attend these events. I will be fighting the government for the resources we need from day one if elected.

KM: I have every sympathy with the local people who were concerned about Essex Police's inability to staff the Remembrance Parade but I am afraid that, like the then-chief constable, I would have come to the same conclusion that with current frontline numbers, it was not the right priority.

CV: Remembrance Day parades across our country are important not only for us to remember the heroic acts of our parents and grandparents but also for the next generation to learn about them. With this in mind I would do everything I can as PCC, including of course working with the chief constable, to ensure these parades can go ahead across Essex including in Epping.

RH: The police need to support events with the right permissions and measures for road closure, and be present where there is a risk of public disorder. Across the county last year it was impressive how local volunteers rallied round to make sure we provided proper recognition for the service and sacrifice of our armed forces.

BS: Certainly. As a proud ex-serviceman and an MP I introduced the Armed Forces Days into Essex.  

• Many people are concerned about violent night time crime in towns such as Loughton. What would your approach to the problem be as PCC?

MT: I am standing under the banner of Zero Tolerance Policing and we should not have to put up with violent threats. Violent crime and homicide is increasing alarmingly, along with other crimes. The bottom line is Essex Police needs more police officers and more ability to respond. To achieve any improvement we must have more resources. Essex has the lowest funding structures and cheapest officers, we are bottom of the league in funding terms. I will relentlessly pursue more resources as my number one priority. I do not care who I annoy or upset in government, I will get more funding.

KM: I have read with concern and discussed with residents the issues of crime in places associated with night time economies. I think that what is required is a multi-agency response that engages owners of night-time businesses in order to identify and react correctly to this sort of time.

CV: Ensuring that our officers have time to train, are able to do their jobs as effectively and efficiently as possible, is key. We also need to work with charities such as the SOS bus and the street pastors to ensure that any issues are tackled before they escalate. We need to promote volunteering to be special constables, particularly with young people. 

RH: I will work with the police to ensure that officers are on duty at times when the public need the most help. However, tackling night time crime is something that requires a multi-agency response, from local authority licensing, to public responsibility to not drink too much, to volunteers such as street pastors and SOS Buses. People should be able to enjoy themselves safety and responsibly.

BS: Tories have ignored towns like Loughton and Epping. I'd scrap the Tory policy of ending bobbies on the beat, get more officers on the frontline and take a zero tolerance approach to policing.

• How do you think Nick Alston performed as PCC?

MT: Nick Alston has patently failed because of his party political affiliations, crime is up overall and is getting worse. He has not robustly challenged on the fundamental issue of the funding crisis Essex Police faces because his party political affiliation to the Home Secretary. We need someone who will fight for Essex only, not a big political party or being a lackey for the Home Secretary.

KM: It is a mixed record. Like many, I was concerned that Nick did have a too-close relationship with the Conservative government and the Home Office in particular. While he has been a safe pair of hands, he has too often felt like Westminster's voice in Essex, and not Essex's voice in Westminster.

CV: I agree with the areas of focus that Nick Alston has identified in his Police and Crime Plan. Particularly in terms of crime prevention, a key focus for me, and victim support. Although it is clear that there is plenty more to be done in both of these areas. One thing I would seek to do, as well as my regular duties of meeting with the chief constable and local community groups, is be more pro-active in engaging with the Police Federation and the officers themselves.

RH: Nick has had to guide Essex Police through a difficult period, with extreme pressure on public sector finances. Against that background it is good to see that some crimes such as burglary are down strongly over the period of his incumbency, and most other forms of crime are down or held at a level. He has been very effective in promoting better partnership working, especially in relation to victim support.

BS: Nick's a decent man and done his best in the face of Tory police cuts. But his priority of a new £43m Chelmsford Police HQ, while sacking over 500 officers and 70 per cent of Police Community Support Officers, and closing police stations is wrong.

The second part of the PCC interviews will be published on Friday morning (April 22).