Charles Walker

THE race to decide who will be in charge of policing in the county is under way, with candidates being readied for the election of the first ever police and crime commissioner of Hertfordshire.

Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems are all at different stages in the process to determine who they put forward for the elections in November.

And it’s not just party-political animals who could land the role, as ordinary people can apply too.

The new position is an attempt by the Government to make police forces up and down the country more accountable to the communities they serve.

In the frame for the Conservative Party nomination is county councillor David Lloyd, the current chair of Hertfordshire Police Authority, GP and NHS director Dr Rachel Frosh and ex-RAF man Paul Richardson.

The Labour Party candidate is already decided upon and is Stevenage borough councillor Sherma Batson.

So far the Liberal Democrats do not have any potential candidates, but a spokesman said: “Hertfordshire’s Lib Dems are in the process of narrowing down the selection shortlist, which will be voted on by Lib Dem members across Hertfordshire over the summer.”

Hatfield-based Lib Dem campaigner, and former Parliamentary candidate Paul Zukowskyj said: “Lib Dems are, as always, extremely democratic in choosing a candidate.

“We allow our members to vote, on the principle of one person, one vote, for the candidate they’d prefer.

“That, of course, takes time, so we’ll be announcing the decision of Hertfordshire members at some time in the late summer.”

Anyone can stand for the post as long as they are British, Commonwealth or EU citizens, who are 18 or over and resident in the police force area in which they wish to stand.

Those who have been convicted of imprisonable offences are barred from the role.

And public servants, including MPs and councillors, or serving police officers or Pcsos may not stand unless they resign their post.