People in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will vote today (Thursday, November 15) to elect their first ever police and crime commissioner(PCC).
The PCC will hold the police force to account and oversee how crime is tackled.
Elections are taking place across England and Wales, excluding London, with 41 new PCCs being elected in total.ELECTORAL COMMISSION GUIDANCE ON HOW TO VOTETHE CANDIDATES
Three candidates are standing in the Leicestershire police area:
The Conservatives have chosen recently retired Air Chief Marshall Sir Clive Loader, a parish councillor in Wing, Rutland, while the Labour Party has selected Leicester's assistant mayor Sarah Russell. Leicester community worker and businessman Suleman Nagdi is standing as an independent.
WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR? The PCCs will replace police authorities, which have traditionally set police budgets, appointed senior officers and scrutinised their force's performance. The Home Office believes commissioners will be more accountable to the public because they are elected, whereas police authority members include appointed councillors, magistrates and independents. The commissioners will not be able to interfere in operational matters. They will also be responsible for making sure the Chief Constable runs the police service efficiently and effectively. Elections will take place every four years. The Leicestershire police commissioner role comes with a £75,000 salary.
For more information about the candidates, visit their websites:
www.clive4leicspcc.comwww.nagdi.co.ukwww.sarah4pcc.co.uk You can also find out more about each candidate at choosemypcc.org.ukDownload a PDF of candidates standing for election in Leicestershire Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm. See the city council website for details of where to vote here. You must be registered to vote. The deadline for registering was Wednesday 31st October.WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR? The PCCs will replace police authorities, which have traditionally set police budgets, appointed senior officers and scrutinised their force's performance. The Home Office believes commissioners will be more accountable to the public because they are elected, whereas police authority members include appointed councillors, magistrates and independents. The commissioners will not be able to interfere in operational matters. They will also be responsible for making sure the Chief Constable runs the police service efficiently and effectively. Elections will take place every four years. The Leicestershire police commissioner role comes with a £75,000 salary.
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General information about the post and the election can be found at: www.leics-pcc.org
