Independent Sue Mountstevens has called on her three rival candidates to quit their political parties ahead of the election for Avon and Somerset’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
Independent Sue Mountstevens has called on her three rival candidates to quit their political parties ahead of the election for Avon and Somerset’s new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
Sue Mountstevens is the only candidate standing for the PCC election on 15th November outside of the three main parties, the others being Liberal Democrat Pete Levy, Conservative Ken Maddock and Labour’s John Savage.
Sue said: “As the party conference season commences, I have a challenge for the other candidates: if you are serious about being a Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, resign from your party now.”
“We need a PCC who is single-mindedly determined to do what’s right for local people, without the distraction of party labels. I am standing in this election because I want to deliver a first-class police service for the people of Avon and Somerset. I am clear that party politics should be kept out of policing.
“The other candidates should have the courage of their convictions and resign from their parties immediately so they can make their own voices heard. As it stands, they will be drowned out by the party machines in London, who want their pound of flesh having bankrolled candidates campaigns.
“As we have seen time and again, party politicians are neither good managers of complex organisations nor good at delivering on their promises. Policing is too important to be left to those with a party agenda and a political axe to grind.“
Sue, for many years a director of the family business, Mountstevens Bakeries, has been a magistrate in Bristol for 15 years, an independent member on the Avon and Somerset Police Authority and vice-chair of the Independent Monitoring Board at Bristol Prison.
She believes that the victims of crime should be put at the heart of the police and criminal justice system. She has targeted combating anti-social behaviour, burglary and violent offences, especially against women and girls, as her main priorities.
