Former Northampton councillor and union leader Lee Barron has been confirmed as the Labour Party’s candidate for the post of police commissioner.
Mr Barron, aged 42, is currently the Midlands Regional Secretary for the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
He is also a former Labour Party group leader at Northampton Borough Council and is a magistrate in Northamptonshire.
He was announced as the party’s candidate today having been selected ahead of Mike Caseman-Jones, a former police officer from Towcester.
Mr Barron said: “This is not a gimmick, this is a political election, someone is not going to come into it wearing a ‘Supercop’ t-shirt with a cape on.
“It is about building a policing plan, which reflects the priorities of our communities and then working with the chief constable to make sure those priorities are met.
“As far as the Tories are concerned their record in Northamptonshire is appalling.
“They turned off 66,000 street lights in the county, they cut CCTV and they have cut funding for our PCSOs. I think people should vote for a person who will give communities a voice at the heart of policing. I think the Labour Party is that party.”
Asked what he would do, if elected, he added: “We have to make sure anti-social behaviour is challenged, that violent crime is dealt with, including domestic violence, make sure robberies and burglaries are dealt with and make sure people get a response when they need one.
“We won’t do that if we keep cutting police numbers.”
Elections for the new role of police and crime commissioner will be held in November.
The role, which will come with an estimated £70,000-a-year salary, will then have key strategic powers over the force.