Candidates for the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 2 May have just been announced.

Four candidates are standing for the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. The candidates are:

• Kate Chinn, Labour Party
• Alex Foy Coley, Independent
• Paul Kennedy, Liberal Democrat
• Lisa Townsend, Conservative Candidate

The full list of the Police and Crime Commissioner candidates can also be found here: www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/pcc-candidates

More information on each candidate will be available on the website www.choosemypcc.org.uk from around 10 April, including candidate photos and campaign statements. Those who need a physical copy of the booklet, or a version in large print, braille or audio, can request one from the website or by calling 0300 1311323.

Police and Crime Commissioners are elected every four years, and this is the fourth time Surrey residents will go to the polling stations to vote for their Police and Crime Commissioner since the role was introduced across England and Wales in 2012.

Mari Roberts-Wood, Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, is the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) responsible for the PCC elections in Surrey this time, including ensuring they are run and promoted consistently across the county.

Mari Roberts-Wood said: “I’d like to encourage everyone to check out the candidates on the website choosemypcc.org.uk where you can learn why they want to be Surrey’s next Police and Crime Commissioner. The elections on 2 May are an important opportunity to have a say on who represents you on issues in your local area.”

Five key responsibilities of the Commissioner

• To hold the police to account on behalf of the public, including holding the Chief Constable to account for Force performance. This is done through regular internal discussions as well as public performance meetings. It also includes the power to appoint or remove the Chief Constable when necessary
• To provide a link between the police and Surrey residents. This includes listening to feedback from the public on policing and crime reduction and pursuing improvements that can be made by or in partnership with Surrey Police
• To set the strategic direction and aims for Surrey Police through the Police and Crime Plan, and to propose the amount of council tax that will go towards policing from Surrey residents. The successful PCC candidate will consult the public to inform the development of a new Police and Crime Plan.
• To promote community safety, reduce re-offending and support victims. The Commissioner uses the majority of their budget to support services that work in partnership to achieve these aims and regularly bids for additional funding from Government that enhances this work in Surrey
• To be responsible for all funding relating to policing and reducing crime and to work with the Chief Constable to set the force budget in line with priorities and deliver value for money for residents.

Local elections

On 2 May local elections also take place in six out of 11 boroughs and districts in Surrey, including Elmbridge BC, Mole Valley DC, Reigate & Banstead BC, Runnymede BC, Tandridge DC and Woking BC.

There are no scheduled local elections in Epsom & Ewell BC, Guildford BC, Spelthorne BC, Surrey Heath BC and Waverley BC, however Waverley BC has an unscheduled by-election in the Witley and Milford Borough Ward.

For more info on the local elections candidates, please visit each council's website.

For more information on the May elections, including what’s new in 2024, please see the news release from 13 March 2024: It’s almost time to elect Surrey’s next Police and Crime Commissioner