THE countdown has begun for the election to replace former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott.
Voting will take place on Thursday, November 25, to replace Mr Allott who quit last month following a two-week storm of sustained criticism over the comments he made on the murder of Sarah Everard.
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Mr Allott had only been in the job for five months but faced multiple calls to resign after saying Ms Everard should not have “submitted” to arrest by the police officer who murdered her and that women needed to be more “streetwise”.
There are five candidates competing for the £74,000-per-year post with women’s safety already featuring as a key part of their campaigns.
Zoe Metcalfe
Harrogate councillor Zoe Metcalfe is the Conservative candidate and said her focus is on “improving safety for women and girls across North Yorkshire, supporting victims of crime and tackling serious and organised crime”.
Ms Metcalfe is a project manager for a property company in addition to being a member of Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
Emma Scott-Spivey
Emma Scott-Spivey, a student paramedic and the daughter of two police officers, will contest the role for Labour.
She said she wanted to stand after hearing Mr Allott’s comments and that she would prioritise tackling violence against women and girls, as well as county lines drugs gangs.
She said: “The police are facing unprecedented challenges – not just from savage cuts to funding but also due to a breakdown in trust.”
James Barker
The Liberal Democrat candidate is York councillor James Barker who served in the military for 24 years and also stood for the commissioner role in May when he finished in fourth place.
He said: “There is work to do to rebuild the trust lost with victim’s groups, women’s groups and the public at large.
“If elected, my priority on day one would be starting the long process of making sure everyone can have faith that the PFCC listens to and supports victims of crime.”
Keith Tordoff
Keith Tordoff, who served for 20 years in West Yorkshire Police and ran the world’s oldest sweet shop in Pateley Bridge, has also decided to stand again as an independent after finishing in third place in the last election.
He said the county had been “badly let down” by the previous commissioner and that he will “prioritise responses for crimes against women, hate crime and fight for justice for all victims of crime”.
Read more: Crime Commissioner RESIGNS following fury over his 'streetwise' women comments
Dr Hannah Barham-Brown
The final candidate is Dr Hannah Barham-Brown who will stand for the Women’s Equality Party and works as a GP in Leeds.
She said she took part in protests against Mr Allott and that she would launch an independent inquiry into misogyny at North Yorkshire Police if elected.
She said: “Women and girls in North Yorkshire deserve to live their lives free from the fear and the threat of violence, and that is why I am contesting this election.
The announcement of the election results will take place from Selby Civic Centre on November 26, the day after voters go to the polls.
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