Backing our police

Darryl Preston writes:

A primary role of the Police and Crime Commissioner, as set out in legislation, is to listen to the public and ensure the police respond to their concerns.

We are fortunate we have a system of policing by consent in this country – consent not by all, but certainly by the far majority of good, honest law-abiding citizens.

And this is laid down in the Peelian principles established in 1829 and still relevant today:

'The power of the police to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.

'The police are the public and that the public are the police.'

Experience gained through 30 years' police service

As an ex police officer with 30 years of service, I am fully aware of the need for public support.

I recall as a young 21-year-old police officer I attempted to arrest a much larger drunken individual who had been assaulting members of the public in a busy street.

I was on my own and the individual did not want to be arrested, resulting in, well, a rather one-sided wrestling match. I remember to this day that an unknown (to me) member of the public stopped their car, jumped out and assisted me to detain the individual.

This is just one of many stories I can tell where ordinary members of the public came to my aid.

We have 1,732 warranted police officers

In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough we have 1,732 warranted police officers, along with Police Community Support Officers and other staff, who put themselves on the line every day to keep us safe.

Holding that warrant card means they can no longer walk away from the dangers most of us can and they will experience some of the worst (and the best) of humanity.

The vast majority are professional, ethical and brave and a credit to the uniform they wear.

They are also my public, and I have and will listen to them.

To be clear, I have made ethical policing a priority and this was before some of the abhorrent national cases we have seen in recent times.

We need high levels of vetting and re-vetting and Chief Constables need to be able to sack those who let the police service and public they represent down.

But, I will back our police, so they have the confidence to carry out their duties, using all the legislative tools in the box, to keep us all safe.

If re-elected on 2nd May I will…

1. Ensure sufficient police numbers are maintained.
2. Continue to fight for fairer funding for Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
3. Support at least inflationary pay increases.
4. Continue to support the Cambridgeshire Police Federation in their call for equal pay to officers in surrounding forces.
5. Maintain a good working relationship with Unison, supporting staff members.
6. Campaign for a fairer and swifter complaints system that benefits the police service and the public.
7. Call for stiff sentences for criminals who assault the police.

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.