Candidates to be Dorset and Hampshire’s next police and crime commissioners announced

CANDIDATES have been unveiled for the next police and crime commissioners in Hampshire and Dorset.

Hampshire’s incumbent Conservative commissioner Donna Jones is standing for re-election against Lib Dem county councillor Prad Bains, Labour borough councillor Becky Williams and Don Jerrard of the Justice and Anti-corruption Party.

In Dorset, the current Tory PCC David Sidwick will face competition from Lib Dem councillor Howard Legg, Labour’s David Stokes and independent candidate Marianne Storey.

The elections will take place on 2nd May.

Prad Bains, Lib Dem county councillor for Cowplain and Hart Plain, said: “As I talk to people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, they feel let down on crime and anti-social behaviour. It’s time for change.”

Cllr Bains said his four priorities as commissioner would be to put policing before politics, to listen to people and work with communities, and to push for “fairer” police funding.

Former lawyer and councillor for Liss and Liphook, Don Jerrard of the Justice and Anti-corruption Party, said he wants to “disband” the current system by which commissioners are selected.

He said: “It was totally wrong that commissioners could effectively be chosen by a political party.

“That was a route to providing unnecessary well paid jobs to retired policemen and clapped-out councillors, and would inevitably lead to cronyism and corruption. That is exactly what has happened.”

He added: “If elected I shall consult with the major political parties on how to disband the present system as soon as possible after the general election.”

Running under the slogan ‘more police, safer streets’, former magistrate and banker Donna Jones said: “My vision is for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to be two of the safest places to live, work and visit in the country.

“As your commissioner, as a parent and as a citizen, I want Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to be places our children and elderly people can walk the streets without fear of violence or intimidation.”

Becky Williams, Labour member for the Manor Park ward of Rushmoor Borough Council, said: “Safety, justice, and community welfare are not just political issues; they’re about real lives, real families, and the future we all share. And this is where my priorities are rooted.”

Cllr Williams said she would be committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, violence against women, youth crime, cyber crime and hate crime.

For Dorset’s PCC, Weymouth Town and Dorset county councillor Howard Legg, standing for the Lib Dems, said: “With a background spanning engineering, finance, education, and public service, I will bring my experience to Dorset Police.

“Every crime matters – every victim matters. Dorset police are stretched too thin. It is time for our police to demonstrate to you that every crime matters.”

The current commissioner and former pharmaceutical industry executive David Sidwick said: “This job is about delivering for you – nothing else. I’m bringing back prevention with robust visible community policing and putting victims and communities first.

“The plan is working with Dorset having gone from tenth to seventh safest place in the country.”

Quantity surveyor and Unite union member David Stokes is standing to be the next commissioner for Labour. He said: “I would work to see more police on the street. More neighbourhood and community policing working alongside specialist units to concentrate on violence against women and girls, drug dealing and serious violent crime.”

Independent candidate Marianna Storey, the former chief executive of charity Dorset Mind, said: “I believe the commissioner should be a democratically elected advocate for local people, not governed by a political party. Only by being independent can the commissioner hold the police to account.

“On behalf of the people of Dorset, I will lead real change tackling the root causes of crime, through honest dialogue and transparent actions.”

Police and crime commissioners are elected using the first-past-the-post system, with residents voting for one candidate each and the candidate with the most votes becoming commissioner.

All voters must be registered with the local authority by 16th April.