North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections: A guide to all four candidates

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Having been delayed by the pandemic in 2020, their rescheduling in North Yorkshire and York for May 6 this year has led to fiercer debate than normal - despite the impossibility of any face to face campaigning or public hustings.

Despite lockdown, each of the four candidates for our county has waded into the debate on a wide range of issues.

From toughening up sentences for assaulting emergency workers to giving police officers tasers, dogs thefts to county lines, cracking down on violence against women to the impact of austerity on the closure of police stations, there has been no shortage of heat amid the Covid winter.

The Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent candidates may not agree on much but they are all in the game to win.

History shows that the PFCC race in North Yorkshire and York usually boils down to a battle between Conservative and Labour with the former winning 65,018 votes as opposed to Labour’s 44,759 the last time elections took place in 2016, after second preferences were distributed.

But the role of PFCC has a short past - the first choice last time saw the Independent candidate win 30,984 votes and the Lib Dem 13,856, compared to the Conservatives’ 53,078 and Labour 34,351.

There remains all to play for for this year’s crop of candidates when they go to the polls in just three weeks’ time.

After such an extraordinary last 12 months, it would be unwise to predict anything.

Your Candidates

Philip Allott (Conservative Party)

Yorkshire born and bred, Philip Allott was educated at King James’ School Knaresborough, and studied law in Leeds.

He is the managing director of Knaresborough-based Allott and Associates Ltd a specialist PR and B2B marketing agency, which he founded in 1993 and operates globally.

Should the PFCC elections have taken place during the pandemic?

“Although it was frustrating last year, there was no way the PFCC election could have taken place during the first lockdown; it would have been totally irresponsible in the middle of a pandemic.

“Campaigning was further complicated last week by the very sad death of HRH Prince Philip, which has resulted in a formal break for my party from campaigning.

“As a country we are fortunate that as more and more people have not only have their first but, now, second vaccines thanks to NHS delivery and Government planning, the most vulnerable groups have been protected, making it far safer for the election to take place on May 6.

Do you think it will affect the turnout?

“Local government elections and PFCC elections always have a low turnout. This is compounded by the fact many people may not understand what Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners do, and some TV programmes like Line of Duty have given Police and Crime Commissioners’ powers that they don’t legally have!

“Information provided by the PFCC Returning Officer indicates that a lot of people have applied for postal votes this time.

There are many issues a PFCC has to address. But, if you were allowed to champion only one issue, what would it be?

“I have a six-point pledge encompassing violence against women and young girls to dog thefts. In terms of ranking it has to be County Lines drug dealers because of the danger this poses to everyone in North Yorkshire. “These dealers create a spider’s web, ensnaring vulnerable young people into storing drugs and transporting them around the county. I am determined to smash County Lines.

"If elected I will be supporting North Yorkshire Police and the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit to help do that.”

Alison Hume (Labour)

A York-based lecturer and award-winning British TV writer, Alison Hume is the parent of a child with complex disabilities and has been a disability campaigner for 20 years.

In the 2019 European Parliament election, she stood as a candidate for the Labour Party in the Yorkshire and Humber constituency.

Should the PFCC elections have taken place during the pandemic?

“The United States proved it is possible to allow elections to take place safely.

“I am confident that here in the United Kingdom all the necessary steps have, and will be, taken to ensure it will be just as safe for voters here in North Yorkshire to choose their next Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner.

“I am encouraging everyone apply for a postal vote as this is the easiest way to vote in this election.

“After nine years of a Tory PFCC it’s time to elect a visible and approachable People’s Commissioner.

Do you think it will affect the turnout?

“The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections have never caught on with the public, which is a shame as an effective Commissioner can make a huge difference to communities.

“This is clearest where commissioners have acted as really effective voices for ordinary people, which has not happened here in North Yorkshire.

“Several years of cuts and closures have seen violent crime rates soar and charge rates for crimes against women and girls remain at a lamentable