— Communities come first —
By ensuring the police are visible, listening to local concerns and responding quickly.
Part two of Darryl Preston’s six-point plan to continue #WeCutCrime in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Communities come first
One of the first questions I’m asked when talking to residents is 'What does a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) do and why do we need one?'
Well, having been a serving police officer for 30 years, I then worked as a senior policy manager for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners in Westminster, supporting and representing all PCCs across the country.
As your elected PCC for the past three years, I have a special insight into the role.
The PCC’s major functions are...
- Responsibility for the policing budget – currently £185m a year for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough constabulary.
- Setting strategic priorities via a police and crime plan.*
- Holding the Chief Constable to account for the running of an effective and efficient police force.
- Commissioning services such as victim support.
In addition, the PCC...
- Must take account of the national strategic policing requirement set by the Home Office.
- Appoints – and can dismiss – the Chief Constable.
But, in my view, the most important role of the PCC is to be the elected representative of the communities they serve, listening to the concerns of all the residents in their policing area and acting on those concerns.
It is this part of the job that should define a good PCC – communities should know who their PCC is and see they are making a difference in keeping us all safe.
To that end, the PCC must be accountable to all the residents they serve – working with and for you.
I’m a crime fighter
At heart I'm a crime fighter, not a politician.
Though good governance is a key aspect to the job, this should not be an ‘admin role'. If re-elected I will continue to work hard to ensure all your voices are heard and the police act on your concerns.
This applies to all our communities – in our towns and cities, in our villages and rural communities.
If re-elected I will...
1. Continue to consult with local residents, businesses, partners (councils, schools, health, fire, ambulance and other agencies) and charitable organisations to draw up the priorities in the police and crime plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
2. Continue to engage with residents and make sure police action tackles residents’ concerns and priorities. I will be visible, out and about meeting residents and businesses – in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – to ensure local issues are identified and action is taken.
3. Continue to hold surgeries with residents in all parts of the county.
4. Continue to ensure the police are engaging with and visible to local communities, responding to local concerns.
5. Further Invest in the 101 police telephone contact system and online services, making sure everyone can contact the police when they need to.
6. Continue to include victim support, crime prevention, road safety and an attack on organised crime as key parts of my police and crime plan.*
* Current police and crime plan
Police and crime plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, 2021 to 2024.
Darryl Preston is the Conservative candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner election on 2nd May 2024. There's more about Darryl on the About Darryl Preston page.