Crime chief candidates are revealed (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Four bid for role in the election of new West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

7:00am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

The names of all candidates standing for election as the first Police and Crime Commissioner in West Yorkshire were revealed last night.

Residents in Bradford can chose from four candidates when they go to the polls on November 15 – Labour candidate Mark Burns-Williamson, the Conservative Party’s Geraldine Mary Carter, independent Cedric Mark Christie and Andrew Clive Glover Marchington, representing the Liberal Democrats.

West Yorkshire is one of 41 police areas in England and Wales to get a commissioner – responsible for holding the chief constable and police force to account on the public’s behalf and overseeing how crime is tackled in the county. In the past, the chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Authority was appointed by the other 16 elected and independent committee members.

The new commissioner role will involve regular meetings with the public to set police and crime plans, ensuring the police force budget is spent on priorities in the area and hiring and firing the chief constable.

They will not run the police service and the chief constables will continue to be responsible for day-to-day operations, but will be accountable to the public via the commissioners.

Elections for the role, which is independent and holds a £100,000-a-year salary, will be held every four years.

The results of the vote in West Yorkshire will be announced on November 16 and the commissioner will start work on November 22. By next February they must have a clear set of budgeted objectives which can be wholly or in part rejected by the members of a Crime Panel.

Information about all the candidates will be published by the Home Office at choose mypcc.co.uk on October 26.