Tough talking by Tory police commissioner candidate
A BARRISTER seeking to become Gloucestershire's new police commissioner has already "put away" a few criminals.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham yesterday, Victoria Atkins promised to make Gloucestershire safer while providing value for money if elected to the top crime-fighting job at the polls next month.
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Victoria Atkins
She made the committment as she appeared on a panel alongside policing minister Damian Green.
The barrister, who specialises in prosecuting serious and organised crime, said: "I know how the criminal justice system works.
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"I know the effect crime can have on people. I have put a few criminals away in my time."
She told activists the Conservatives were trusted more than any other party on law and order.
Ms Atkins said it was important to recognise the differing needs of the county's residents.
Stressing the need to remember rural areas, she said: "The commissioner has to recognise the different policing needs of rural and urban areas."
She added: "The fear of crime can be as corrosive as crime itself." On the campaigning of her opponents, Ms Atkins claimed: "One of the candidates is scaremongering about the closure of police stations."
But she said the station in question was moving 200 yards up the road to share premises with the local council.
"Their activities have meant I have very proudly signed a clean campaign pledge, promising not to scaremonger or make promises that are easy to make and easier to break."
She had invited other candidates to sign it.
And she added: "I would make Gloucestershire safer. It's on every email and letter I send out.
"I am going to do that by representing Gloucestershire people's views on policing issue to the chief constable. And like any good Tory, I am going to make sure we get value for money whilst we are doing it."
The election is being held on November 15. The commissioner will have the power to hire and fire chief constables and will also set the force's budget and its "strategic direction".
In Gloucestershire, the post is set to fetch a salary of £65,000.
Comments
by ShaneEC
Monday, October 22 2012, 9:15AM
“Although I have no seen her for a couple of years, I knew Victoria Atkins when she was at the Bar. She was a highly organised, efficient and effective prosecutor. She started out at the Bar prosecuting the sort of cases that blight peoples daily lives. However she moved on to deal with serious organised crime and fraud cases. In reality the sort of cases that provide the motive for much of the lower level crime. It is for example the large scale drug importations that lead to low level dealing and drug abuse. My view is she will by the breadth of her experience provide a very valuable perspective as a Commissioner. You are fortunate.”
by MartinSurl
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:44PM
“Ms Atkins says..."One of the candidates is scaremongering about the closure of police stations."
In case anyone is wondering the candidate referred to is Martin Surl, the independent candidate and former senior police officer. The station is Coleford Police Station.
Thankfully on 15th November the people can decide if I am guilty of scaremongering or if I have made a well argued case they agree with. This election won't we won or lost on a single issue, but I'm flattered this got a mention at the Tory party conference.
Martin Surl
Independent Candidate
Police & Crime Commissioner”
by geraint2010
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:56AM
“Hmmm £65,000 pa as police commissioner sounds like quite a pay-cut for a high-flying barrister. Or does Ms Atkins intend doing the job part-time?”
by Ysedra
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:51AM
“What is there to say about this woman? It seems to me that she has been conducting her campaign to become PCC* just like she would if she'd ever got past the selection stages for parliamentary candidate. Most people say the Conservative PCC candidate is a shoe-in. I guess that will be a great stepping stone in her political ambitions, but do we want to be stepped on in the process?
*with cloying pleas for the other candidates to 'fight fairly', for example.”