Councillor bids for top police job

JOHN Stockton has been selected as the Labour candidate for the new post of Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire – and won the support of Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
Mr Stockton is a borough councillor at Halton and unsuccessfully fought the Weaver Vale constituency at the last General Election.
He is pledging to fight cuts in police funding, keep police on the beat, back a strong and swift response to anti-social behaviour, be tough on crime and the causes of crime and protect the police from political interference.
Mr Stockton and Ms Jones are calling on local residents to sign a Labour Party petition demanding that cuts to frontline policing be scrapped. Residents can add their names to the petition by visiting www.warringtonlabour.com
The MP said: “Labour didn’t come up with Police and Crime Commissioners and we didn’t support this policy in Parliament. We still believe the £100m would be better spent on 3,000 police constables. But if the Government pushes ahead Labour will not stand back and allow Tory and Liberal Democrat candidates to be cheerleaders for police cuts in Warrington and Cheshire.
“I’m looking forward to campaigning with John in Warrington and making sure local people know how important it is that we have a strong voice standing up against the Tories’ cuts to the police.”
Mr Stockton said: “If you elect me your Police and Crime Commissioner, I intend to ensure that the police in Cheshire work with the consent of the public.
“This means that I will listen to people’s views across the county and incorporate them in my plans to keep people safe in Cheshire. An essential prerequisite for a happy and successful life is for people to live in a safe environment.
“Individuals have the right to live their lives free from crime and free from the causes of crime. Under the last Labour government crime was nearly halved from the record levels under the Tories. The challenge for me will be to reduce crime and work to ensure public safety right across Cheshire.”