The Tory candidate for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner has vowed to cut violent crime and back innovation in the force if he is elected.
Adam Simmonds, the former County Hall spin doctor, has launched his manifesto with a pledge to put victims of crime first, along with a “seven point pledge”.
He said: “I want to cut violent crime by 40 per cent. At the moment Northamptonshire has violent crime levels similar to Greater Manchester and Merseyside, high domestic violence and no-go town centres. We have to deal with this more effectively and I want to see more visible policing and swifter justice spearheading the stamping out of violence. The same goes for anti-social behaviour, where I want to see zero tolerance enforced.
Addressing his seven point pledge. he said, “Firstly, I will be a progressive, considered and modern thinking commissioner. I will not intrude on police operational responsibilities. I do not want issues to become party political and will work closely and co-operatively with the new Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel.
“I will listen to the experiences and concerns of ordinary people, especially where crime impacts most. I will ensure public concerns are reflected in policing priorities, while remaining vigilant champions of the civil liberties of local minorities. And I will listen to concerns and ideas from rank and file police officers. When public demands cannot be met I will be open and honest about what can and cannot be done.
“I will protect local neighbourhood policing so locally responsive policing happens on the ground. I will protect numbers in neighbourhood police teams and want to see office staff re-deployed to increase numbers of officers out and visible on the beat.
“I will improve police response and will want clear minimum response times that people should expect when they call 999 or non emergency numbers. I want officers trained to focus on the needs of local people, to change high dissatisfaction among victims and witnesses.
“I want to see wider approaches to crime reduction, working closely with the courts and probation to shift funds from custody into community based alternatives and reduce re-offending. And better systems so people with mental health problems or addictions have services to prevent them being continually cycled through the criminal justice system without the causes of their offending behaviour being addressed. It also means paying close attention to the impact of early years education, family support and employment on levels of crime.
“Much is known about what policing strategies can reduce crime and what things are a waste of public money. I will ensure that evidence forms part of local debate about policing. I will not be afraid to pilot innovative approaches to crime reduction and learn from mistakes.
“As commissioner my prime focus will be on crime and policing in Northamptonshire. But crime does not respect county boundaries. I will pay close attention to the wider national picture for example on cross-border crime and terrorism. I will work with and learn from police and crime commissioners in other areas to maximise the benefits to be gained from a devolved policing system.”