Countdown begins for crime commissioner candidates (From Oxford Mail)

Countdown begins for crime commissioner candidates

10:20am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Countywide

CANDIDATES wanting to become the Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police have 10 days to officially put forward their nomination.

The nomination process for the £85,000 a year job began yesterday and continues until October 19.

It is the first time people in England and Wales will be able to directly elect a police and crime commissioner, who will be responsible for how crime is tackled in their areas.

The job will involve setting the force budget, appointing and dismissing the chief constable, and engaging with the local community.

The elections are due to be held across the country on November 15.

Amersham barrister Tim Starkey is the Labour candidate, West Berkshire District Council member Anthony Stansfield is the Conservative candidate while Prof John Howson, a magistrate from Oxford, stands for the Lib Dems.

Voters will indicate first and second preferences, if no candidate has 50 per cent of the first preference votes, the two candidates with the highest number of first preference votes proceed to a second round count.