Wild promises......

I would urge voters to be cautious when considering the many promises being made by candidates who do not understand policing. Let me give you some examples:

Robert Teal now says he wants to increase ‘bobbies on the beat’ to 90% of the police staff rather than the current target of 70%. Putting to one side the fact that this may be crossing the boundary into the Chief Constable’s operational control; what he does NOT say is where he proposes to make cuts in order to achieve this. At a time when some forces are increasing resources to deal with child grooming, for instance, it would appear that Mr Teal intends to significantly reduce specialist departments.

Shaun Wright says he would ensure all complainants of anti-social behaviour get a response within twenty four hours. What’s the point of visiting someone at 4pm who has phoned to report an isolated incident of drunken behaviour outside their house at 2am? What a total waste of an officer’s valuable time. Likewise, it would be pointless people phoning the police about a burglary the day after bonfire night or Halloween – hard-pressed officers will all be spending the day meeting Mr Wright’s meaningless and rigid target!

Jonathan Arnott says he’ll have police stations open 24 hours a day. Well, as a resident I can assure voters that I would not wish to see valuable police or civilian staff sitting in an empty police station at four in the morning. If I need the police at that time I want them to come to me.

Another concern is this. Whose ideas are these? Have candidates already fully consulted or are they, even now, before having been elected, pursuing their own ill-thought-through whims? Of course it could just be shallow and meaningless rhetoric to win votes.

When you hear any of these promises, I would just ask that you please carefully think about them.

Policing is a serious and complex business. You are appointing someone who will affect lives. I am standing as your PCC because I want to play my role in making South Yorkshire safer. I have an abundance of knowledge and experience of what works and can therefore, with credibility, pursue the type of policing the public wants. I will not be entering any competition of attractive (and potentially dangerous) ideas.

I am delighted to have been selected to stand for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner on behalf of the Conservative Party.

I must firstly say, that despite the Party endorsement, I very firmly believe that this is NOT a party political role. I will be signing an oath of impartiality which guarantees that I will not be influenced by Government, the Opposition parties or the unions. We must not play politics with public safety. That is immoral. That's not British policing. This is a unique and special opportunity to improve our police force on behalf of the people it serves; not a stick for political parties to beat each other with and must never be used to interfere with the Chief Constable's operational  control. I will of course fight for budgets, as strongly as any candidate is vowing to do, so that the police force can be of maximum effect in reducing crime. In return I will expect the police force to deliver on that.

I've spent my entire working life within the criminal justice system. I'm currently an independent member of the Parole Board ensuring public safety is a priority when making decisions regarding a prisoner's release. I was a police officer with Greater Manchester Police for 30 years attaining the rank of Chief Inspector and latterly responsible for Criminal Justice Partnerships in Salford.

I had a successful career specialising in community policing, partnership working, crime reduction and domestic violence. I moved to become an Associate Trainer with the National Police Improvement Agency. I worked as a Neighbourhood renewal advisor supporting local partnerships in the delivery of regeneration and crime reduction working under contract to the then Labour government.

I completed secondments to both regional and national governments including Home Office Safer Cities Co-ordinator, managing the Regional Crime Reduction Team at a regional government office, and working on generating crime and disorder reduction activity across many regional programmes. I have regularly briefed ministers on these activities and drafted speeches on their behalf.

I have extensive experience of gun and gang culture, which we have seen, all too tragically in recent weeks, represents a continued threat to our communities. I have experience of working in deprived areas with correspondingly high crime levels including Labour heartland estates. I have international policing experience, including tough areas like New York and Philadelphia where I worked to share best practice between U.K police forces and their American counterparts. On behalf of the British Government I visited Chicago to work with the Mayor and others to explore policing and housing policies.

I have the courage to take difficult decisions which will be necessary in the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. Unlike my opponents however, I have real experience of the role of a police officer and this gives me the means and the credibility to create effective working relationships with officers, officials and partners. Critically, I have the necessary insight to tackle inefficient working practices on the behalf of South Yorkshire people.

Contemporary negative press surrounding the police does highlight a need for us to recognise and challenge mistakes but they should not be allowed to shackle our force. We must work to ensure that officers are able to achieve maximum efficiency in reducing crime whilst ensuring public confidence and pride in South Yorkshire Police.

Many candidates talk of returning officers to "front line policing". These are empty words unless you have the ability to identify exactly what that front line is and have the bravery to say what it is not. I have the skills and experience to work with the public, the police and their partners to identify and prioritise exactly where our resources are needed and I have the courage to take decisions to make sure they get there.

My aim will be giving safety back to the public by giving strength back to the Force. 

Printed and promoted by Vonny Watts on behalf of Nigel Bonson both of South Yorkshire Conservatives, 1b South Terrace, Moorgate Street, Rotherham. S60 2EU