I was elected Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire on 2 May 2024 and took up the role a week later on 9 May. This is an important role, and I am very privileged to serve the residents of Bedfordshire.
Thank you to everyone who voted for me. Now that the [PCC] election is over my commitment is to champion the needs and rights of all citizens across the county.
As PCC, my approach will be driven by my passion for social justice, fairness, criminal justice, and human rights.
I believe that we should have zero tolerance for crime and the causes of crime, so prevention and wider social reform are important to me.
As PCC…
As PCC, I make sure our police service serves all our communities equitably, effectively, visibly, and efficiently. As PCC, I have no operational policing responsibilities but through the Police and Crime Plan, I will set the strategy and objectives for policing for the next four years.
I will also have responsibility for setting the police service budget. I will then hold the Chief Constable for delivering the Police and Crime Plan, and ensuring we have an effective, efficient, and accountable police service.
I regard the police service as a vital public service alongside the NHS, local government, and education. I am also committed to the police service strengthening its partnerships with all the public sector, local businesses, local community groups and local councils. Our aim must
be both criminal and social justice.
As PCC, I chair the wider Bedfordshire Local Criminal Justice Board which brings together all the agencies across the criminal justice system including the CPS, the courts, the probation service, the NHS, and local authorities. My hope is that we can rebuild what is a
broken system.
Victims must be at the heart of the criminal justice system, and they must have their rights fulfilled. Defendants and offenders too have rights which we must respect. Delayed justice serves no one. I intend to use my democratic mandate to pursue these goals.
My Deputy PCC, Umme Ali will lead our work on supporting and advocating for victims as well as leading our mission to address violence against women and children, I am keen to improve outcomes for victims of crime by using my mandate to influence
others.
A new Police and Crime Plan
I have a legal duty to agree on a Police and Crime Plan that will set clear strategic objectives for the police and wider criminal justice system over the coming four years.
The overarching objective will be to secure social and criminal justice. This will be based on the missions which I set out during the election campaign, but it will also be shaped by what I hear from residents and other local stakeholders.
These missions are:
- tackling serious crime
- reinvigorating community policing
- addressing violence against women and children
- putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system
- preventing crime and confronting the causes of crime
- ensuring excellent, effective and efficient policing
The listening will not stop with the publication of the Police and Crime Plan. Over the coming months and years, I will be listening to residents, businesses, and community groups and explaining what I am doing so I can be held to account.
As a new PCC, with a new Police and Crime Plan and a new government offering hope for our county, our shared aim must be to ensure that Bedfordshire is safer and fairer.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
elected Police and Crime Commissioner, John Tizard (Labour).
It is published unedited and does
not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
