Police and crime commissioners were launched in the United Kingdom in 2012 with elected commissioners serving for three and a half years. The role aims to bring more accountability to policing and ensure that policing is efficient and effective, subsequently cutting crime.

This year, Kent Police and local councils are urging people to vote in the hope of increasing the election turn-out.

Academics from Policing and Criminal Justice and Politics and International Relations at Canterbury Christ Church University hosted a public event giving the community the opportunity to meet this year’s candidates. The event took place on Thursday 28 April, exactly one week before voting opened.

Dr Steve Tong, Director of Policing and Criminal Justice, said: ”It is vital that the community  have the opportunity to ask questions and hear what Police and Crime Commissioner candidates propose if they are elected.”

“We decided to host Meet the PCC Candidates to give local voters the chance to meet the people that could soon be responsible for setting police and crime plans and police accountability.”

The PCC candidates who attended the event included; Matthew Scott (Conservative), Tristan Osbourne (Labour Party), Henry Bolton (UKIP), Gurvinder Sandher (Independent) and, David Naghi (Liberal Democrat).