Somerset elections: Your local Police Crime Commissioner candidates

Four local candidates are competing to be elected your Police & Crime Commissioner for the Somerset and Avon Constabulary.

On 15 November elections will take place across the UK allowing the public to choose their PCCs who will aim to cut crime and act as watchdog for the local police force.

Their role will be to hold the police chief constables and the force to account, making them answerable to their communities.

The PCC will aim to ensure your community's needs are met as effectively as possible.

Your candidates for Police and Crime Commissioner for the Somerset and Avon Constabulary are:

Pete Levy – Liberal Democrat:

Pete has worked with Wiltshire Constabulary as a Police Constable and served six years with the Royal Military Police.

Additionally Pete has been serving as a councillor for the North Bristol ward of Horfield since May 2010 and has been a member of Avon and Somerset Police Authority since June 2010.

He said: "I'm Somerset born and bred. I've both Military and Police experience.

"My vision is to ensure our Police Plan is forged by the voice of the people it serves."

Ken Maddock – Conservative:

Ken Maddock has been campaigning hard to become the Somerset PCC promising to double apprenticeships and champion victims of crime if he wins the election.

He has been the leader of Somerset County Council for three years and has experience in business.

Mr Maddock said: "As the Leader of Somerset County Council I froze council tax whilst improving services for local residents.

"I put the priorities of local people at the heart of everything I do. Nobody could work harder and nobody could care more for our communities in Avon and Somerset."

Dr John Savage – Labour:

Dr John Savage is the Chief executive of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and was voted Labour's second choice candidate for Avon and Somerset.

Dr Savage is also chairman of University Hospitals Bristol and is a former High Sheriff of the city.

Bob Ashford won the vote originally but stepped down when news emerged about his childhood criminal conviction.

Dr Savage told the BBC: "I believe the great point about this is that it creates a new interface for people to get their voices, their thoughts and their worries into the police service,"

Ms Sue Mountstevens – Independent

Sue has lived in Avon and Somerset all her life and used to run a chain of successful Bakeries across the South West.

Serving as a magistrate for 15 years, Sue has tackled adult, youth and family cases. Additionally, she has served as the Vice-Chair of the Independent Monitoring Board at Bristol Prison.

She has also served as an independent member of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority and is a Lead Member for Major Crime

Ms Mountstevens said: "I will reduce crime. I am determined to ensure Avon & Somerset benefits from great policing.

"To do this, I believe it is critical to keep politics out of policing: thus protecting our residents and the police from political interference."

The first PCC elections will take place on 15 November 2012 and everyone registered to vote in the police force area will be able to vote at their local polling station.

Poll cards will be delivered to everyone who is eligible to vote this October.

The cards will give details on your local polling station and information on postal votes and proxy votes.

Anyone who is over 18 and on the register of electors will have the opportunity to vote.

The deadline to register to vote is Wednesday 31 October, to vote by post it is 5pm on October 31 and to vote by proxy you must register by 5pm on 7 November.

To find out more about voting and your local candidates visit www.policeelections.com.

Let us know what you think! Should the PCC be a political role or not? Who will you vote for?