THE VOTE to decide on West Mercia’s newest police and crime commissioner (PCC) is just around the corner.
Residents within the policing district will have five candidates to choose from upon arrival to a local polling station on Thursday, May 2.
Ahead of the vote, we are providing a round-up of all five electoral candidates to help voters make an informed decision on the future of policing oversight in the region.
John Campion – The Conservative Party
Campion is the current PCC for West Mercia. He was elected in May 2016 and was re-elected again in 2021 as a representative of The Conservative Party. He will stand again for re-election this year. He has a background in local politics, serving as a Wyre Forest District Councillor before becoming leader in 2007. He was also elected a Worcestershire County Councillor in 2005 and held roles as a cabinet member.
He has also held posts in private business as well as in the High Security Prison System.
His main pledges for re-election include cutting crime, supporting victims and survivors and putting policing back in the heart of the community.
To achieve his aims he plans to expand local policing teams including enhancements of rural policing, create a victims hub, redirect funding for 100 more police officers to the region’s safer neighbourhood teams, improve response times and accessibility of both 101 and online reporting services, and create more specialist roads policing teams.
Mr Campion’s pledges read: “West Mercia Police is made up of hard-working officers and staff; I am resolute in the belief that they and the communities of West Mercia deserve a hard-working Commissioner who is focused on fighting crime, supporting victims and putting policing back at the heart of the community.”
Henry Curteis – English Democrats Party
Curteis from Shropshire has been announced as the English Democrats Party candidate. He is currently creative director of the English Democrats Party. Formerly a chairman of a parish council, he stood for election as an MP in Shrewsbury and Atcha, in 2000.
His main pledges for election include ensuring budgets are spent on front line policing, prioritising catching criminals such as burglars, rapists, and muggers, and scrapping ‘diversity targets’ to ensure the best candidates get the job.
Mr Curteis’ pledges read: “The claim being made that crime is down by 15% in West Mercia flies in the face of experience. West Mercia is a low performing Police area in national statistics.
“If you want West Mercia Police refocused on protecting people from criminals; on traditional policing; on maintaining Law and Order; and on supporting the rights of victims to defend themselves then vote Curteis.
“Vote Curteis to stop police budget being used to fund gay pride, painting rainbows on officers, and focus on – “More Police – Catching Criminals.
“Police Officers should not be selected on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, gender or sexuality – “Diversity” targets reduce efficiency.”
Julian David Geoffrey Dean – The Green Party
Dean was born in Shropshire and has been a Shropshire councillor since 2017.
His main pledges include resisting further cuts to critical police service in Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Telford and Wrekin, seeking to stand up for marginalised communities including women experiencing domestic violence and people of colour who are targeted by stop and search.
The Green Party candiate also aims to make environmental and wildlife crime a higher priority, by seeking to protect the unique local environment within West Mercia.
Mr Dean’s pledges read: “Our police service is under serious pressure. Cuts from central government have weakened their ability both to respond to crimes and to work with communities and businesses to reduce levels of crime.
“Police officers are left plugging the gaps left by inadequate mental health, care and youth services, and a court system struggling to cope.
“A vote for me is a vote to tell central government that our communities need adequate funding and investment in policing and crime prevention to keep us all safe and secure.”
Sarah Murray – Liberal Democrats
Murray has extensive experience in law, education and mental health. She was elected to Worcester City Council is May 2023 within Warndon parish.
Her focuses for election are a return to community policing. proactive intervention in the root causes of crime, a burglary response guarantee and greater diversity and inclusivity in the PCC and deputy roles.
She is a passionate advocate for ending violence against women and girls and wants more done to support victims of male violence.
Murray’s pledge reads: “I am acutely aware of the impact of declining services on those who struggle with education, and how it can result in criminality, and how vulnerability can lead to young people being targeted by County Lines gangs.
“My life’s work, criminal law and education, have led me to take an active interest in this role.
“I am also aware of male victims of domestic abuse and will work to reduce the stigma surrounding this. No victim should feel unheard, even if they wish to remain unseen.
“The Police and Crime Commissioner role encompasses all my interests and passions: criminal justice, social accountability and being an active community role model who listens to the needs of the community and works to improve the area.
“I will work to serve you and bring Liberal values to West Mercia Police Force, and ensure your police are given the time and resources to make you feel safe.”
Richard Andrew Overton – Labour Party
Overton is Telford born and raised. He is deputy leader and cabinet member for homes & enforcement on Telford and Wrekin council. He also manages a community hub and volunteers as a UEFA C Football coach.
Richard’s priorities include investing in community policing, combating violence against women & girls and domestic abuse, tackling violent crime, including knife crime and supporting projects that stop young people from becoming victims of crime, criminal exploitation or offenders.
To achieve his aims he plans on focusing on prevention and detection of crime as well as victim support, he plans to completely review the force area to put ‘more bobbies on the beat’, create new rapid response teams to hit anti-social behaviour and crime hotspots and create a new community lead action plan for each neighbourhood.
Richard’s pledge reads: “For too long people have felt let down by the lack of visible police officers on our streets, and the time taken to respond to calls to 101 and 999, Victims feel let down and not supported. It’s time to take back our streets.”
