VOTING is taking place tomorrow for the election of the next Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia.

The current independent PCC Bill Longmore is stepping down from the position, leaving the competition open to six new candidates in the race, five of which are affiliated to different political parties.

Each of the candidates has released a personal statement ahead of the election stating their intentions if they secure the role.

Conservative candidate John-Paul Campion has said he intends to create a secure force keeping people safe from threats locally and nationally. He also intends to reform West Mercia Police, modernising the back office to divert money to front line policing, and to tackle anti-social behaviour in towns and rural communities.

UKIP candidate Peter Jewell has said he intends to challenge the Government. He said: “ I have concerns that rural areas are under-policed, whilst child and domestic crime, as well as theft and burglary, are increasing, with detection rates for the latter falling.”

Green party candidate John Watson Raine said his key goal is to make people safer and feel safer, by increasing speed enforcement on the roads and the visibility of police on the streets, and by strengthening police interactivity with communities, so that people feel confident reporting crime.

Liberal Democrat candidate Margaret Rowley is aiming to make West Mercia Police more trusted and responsive. She says she wants to prioritise crime prevention and issues that increase the risk of offending, and to make the police more efficient by better use of technology.

The only independent candidate in the race, Barrie Sheldon said: “Politics must not be allowed to interfere as it brings a narrow agenda that could damage the front line of policing that we all rely on and need to have trust in.”

The final candidate Labour’s Daniel Walton has said he wants to demand the Government gives the police the funds they need, put victims first, encourage the police to work with other agencies, and educate the public about online crime and abuse.

The last PCC elections in 2012, which were the first of their kind in the UK elections experienced very low turnouts, with only 14.54 per cent of the electorate voting for who they wanted as West Mercia PCC.

For more information on all of the candidates, visit choosemypcc.org.uk/area/west-mercia.