Police and Crime Commissioner elections take place today

West Berkshire residents will be just some of the 1.7million people eligible to vote at today's election, choosing their most favourable candidate for the Thames Valley role, and also a second choice, in the biggest shake up of the police force for 50 years.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm, with the result expected to be announced by Aylesbury Vale District Council, the authority co-ordinating the Thames Valley count, at 4.30pm. newburytoday.co.uk will announce the result as soon as possible.
The Government hope the Police and Crime Commissioners will ensure “the policing needs of communities are met as effectively as possible, bringing communities closer to the police, building confidence in the system and restoring trust.”
The PCCs will make and influence key decisions from CCTV, street lighting and graffiti to tackling gangs and drug-dealing. Their job is to listen to the public and then respond to their needs, bringing more of a public voice to policing and giving the public a name and a face to complain to if they are not satisfied.
Newburytoday.co.uk provides details of each candidate in the running for the position.
Most local is West Berkshire Council executive member for community safety, Anthony Stansfeld (Con, Kintbury), who took over as chairman for the performance committee of Thames Valley Police last year. He says he will strive to address rural crime, to ensure that the police budget is targeted effectively and to “protect vulnerable people.”
Barrister Tim Starkey is representing the Labour party, after leaving the Liberal-Democrats in 2010 over “broken promises” and the coalition government’s "reckless programme of cuts."
He states a number of key priorities to tackle, including the protection of domestic violence services and the jobs of frontline policemen and to keep victims better informed of cases they are involved with.
The Liberal Democrat candidate is professor John Howson, who has been an Oxford magistrate for 22 years.
He said: “As police and crime commissioner, I would expect to spend a great deal of time travelling across the force area, meeting those concerned with crime and policing.
“If elected I will be continuing to strive for improved value for money; further improvements in detection rates; respect and help for victims of crime.”
Also in the ranks is UKIP’s Barry Cooper, who plans to “provide a democratic voice for the law-abiding majority” and fight against public service cuts.
There are also two independent candidates standing in Thames Valley.
Patience Tayo Awe said she will work in collaboration with community safety partnerships and statutory agencies to ensure the policing needs of local people are met, and will involve the public in setting local policing priorities.
Finally comes businessman and magistrate for 20 years, Geoff Howard. He said: “This role should be apolitical. I see my main role as being the link between people in the community and their local police by concentrating on crimes that affect people locally.”
The Police Crime Commissioner will not have sole control over the force. A police and crime panel has been established to oversee the work of the commissioner and hold them to account. It comprises of a local councillor from each of the 18 local authorities within the Thames Valley, with Dominic Boeck representing West Berkshire Council, as well as two independent members of the public.
For more information on your local polling station, call 01635 519464.