I am an experienced and hard working Northumberland County Councillor with an excellent track record of delivering for residents and campaigning for change.

Full statement

I hold a number of positions and chair the Council’s Audit Committee, I am a qualified barrister and a long-standing transparency, local government reform and anti-corruption campaigner.

There is no place for party politics in policing. Not only does the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner need to be completely impartial and act independently – without any political interference but the public needs to be confident that this is so.

My oath of impartiality will be genuine and I will act without fear or favour and create an environment within Northumbria Police which will allow whistle-blowers to feel able to come forward without fear.

Nor would I allow any more party politics over the police budget with the parties blaming each other for apparent cuts and problems with the service. This role requires someone with the ability and principles to be fully open, transparent and accountable.

My commitments include;

* To be strictly independent and non-political
* To be open and transparent
* To ensure (complex) fraud cases are properly investigated
* To put crime reduction and justice for all at the heart of everything we do
* To not allow political correctness to obstruct the process of justice and the pursuit of criminals
* To tackle cultural problems within Northumbria police
* To work tirelessly to restore public confidence in Northumbria police
* To reverse the short-sighted decision over the opening times of police stations and custody suites which I consider to have led to a reduction in arrests and a big spike in anti-social behaviour especially in the more northern and rural areas

Prepared by Georgina Hill, Election Agent, 1 The Parade School Mews, Berwick-upon-Tweed