Lib Dem candidate in police and crime commissioner election wants more officers

Five candidates who hope to become the Sussex police and crime commissioner (PCC) are standing for election on Thursday 6 May.

They are the incumbent Katy Bourne (Conservative) and four challengers – Jamie Bennett (Liberal Democrat), Kahina Bouhassane (Green), Paul Richards (Labour and Co-operative) and Roy Williams (Independent).

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Each candidate was sent a dozen questions which were submitted by community groups and voters.

Below are the responses from Lib Dem candidate Jamie Bennett.

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Why do you want to be the police and crime commissioner for Sussex?

Sussex Police has been let down by the Conservatives for the past nine years, with budgets being cut and officer numbers decreasing.

I want to help repair this situation until the government realise the PCC role is not fit for purpose and scraps the position making the police independent from politics once again.

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What will you bring to the role?

I will work hard for the community I serve and not just follow direction from the government or a political party.

Our police need the freedom to work for the community and not be used as a party political chess piece.

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What is it that a commissioner can do that a Police and Crime Panel can’t – and does the extra cost incurred by the office of the PCC provide value for money?

No, the PCC role should not have been introduced by the government and the Police and Crime Panel would be a much better and cheaper use of the police budget.

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Should PCCs serve only two terms, like American presidents? What grounds are there for serving more than two terms as PCC?

I believe the role should be scrapped but if the government can’t see the errors in the role, then yes, I believe eight years (two terms) should be a maximum.

What would you say to those migrants, refugees and people from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities who are wary of the police? How would you respond to concerns that stop and search affects some communities disproportionately?