CANDIDATES vying for the region’s top police job will debate at an Oxford hustings ahead of the vote later this month.

Elections for the new Thames Valley police and crime commissioner (PCC) will take place on Thursday, November 15.

The commissioner will represent the public and the £85,000-a-year role includes setting the force budget and priorities.

Anyone can attend the public meeting from 7pm at Oxford Town Hall on Monday.

Each of the six candidates will make a short speech before a debate and a question and answer session.

The meeting will be chaired by Professor Ian Loader, director of the Criminology Centre at the University of Oxford.

It has been organised by Tim Sadler, chairman of the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership.

Professor Loader said: “These are important elections. For the first time, voters will have a chance to elect someone who will shape police priorities and crime reduction policies in Thames Valley for the next four years.

“The hustings will enable the candidates to debate the key issues and give people the opportunity to question them on what they will do if elected as PCC.”

Oxford magistrate John Howson is standing for the Liberal Democrats, Amersham barrister Tim Starkey for Labour, former soldier Anthony Stansfeld for the Conservatives and salesman Barry Cooper for UKIP.

Reading charity trustee Patience Awe and Slough magistrate Geoff Howard are running as independents.