PCC independent candidate announced

A retired East Devon police officer has begun his independent campaign to take over the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Bob Spencer, a former Acting Assistant Chief Constable with 30 years experience in the force, is opposing the cuts in policing that is leading to fewer officers on the beat.

The current commissioner Tony Hogg is not standing for re-election having been voted  in four years ago when the role replaced police authorities.

Mr Spencer has recently stood down as an independent chairperson of both the Devon and Torbay Safeguarding Boards working in partnership with health and social services and has served as a magistrate for nearly five years.

Mr Spencer’s Campaign Manager is also a former police officer. Simon Payne from Plymouth had planned to run for the PCC role but has stood down in favour of Mr Spencer.

Mr Payne, who is a Major in the Territorial Army and has been secretary of the Ten Tors Challenge, is passionate about policing and would also like to see a block in the current decline in officer numbers.

He fears that the government’s budget-slashing policy will mean fewer police in neighbourhoods.

He said: “People are feeling that their streets are no longer safe and that the most vulnerable in society are at risk of abuse.”

Mr Payne retired as a serving police officer in Sussex in 2014 and has returned to his family home in Plymouth.

He is supporting Bob Spencer in his independent bid for PCC in the SW region.

Simon says his decision was not taken lightly.

“After meeting with Bob and talking about our shared views and values, I felt I wanted to support Bob’s campaign and could best do this by being his campaign manager.”

He added: “The most important thing is not to split the Independent vote. Keeping party politics out of policing is our aim. Bob with his knowledge of both policing, policy and partnership work is the person most likely to succeed.”