I’m Tom Plater and I’m standing to be your Labour & Co-operative PCC Candidate for Hertfordshire.

Full statement

There are real issues across Hertfordshire. Violence & sexual offences are consistently high, antisocial behaviour makes up almost a quarter of all crimes in our county, and last year there was a 35% increase in shoplifting. This cannot continue. It’s time to make Hertfordshire safe. In May you’ll have a choice between business as usual with the Tories, or a Labour & Co-operative candidate with a real plan to tackle crime in our neighbourhoods, by smashing drug crime, combating violence against Women & Girls and reducing anti-social behaviour.

We will do this by taking real action. If elected I will put more bobbies on the beat, who know our local communities inside out, with their policing led by the intelligence they gather. I will work with domestic abuse charities to put their workers into 999 call centres to work alongside our brilliant call centre handlers. I will review and improve vetting practises across Hertfordshire Constabulary.

I will also work hand in hand with our county, district & borough councils and their safety teams, and strengthen not only the relationships between our Constabulary and the councils, but that between the PCC and our elected representatives by attending council meetings, and joining councillors at their ward surgeries.

I know we cannot police in a bubble, it must be done in partnership with our education providers, NHS trusts & healthcare organisations, and our fantastic charity sector who do amazing work with local people affected by crime across our county.

To make our county safer it’s time for a change, and that change is Labour.

This election address has been prepared by the agent, Jill Gipps 28 Alma Road St Albans AL1 3BW