THE conservative candidate who will fight to become Bedfordshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has been named.

Conservatives across Bedfordshire have voted by postal ballot for Jas Parmer from Clifton to stand for the PCC election on November 15.

Mr Parmer who is a former police officer, businessman, borough councillor and parliamentary candidate and is currently a sub-postmaster in Kempston said: “I am delighted to be chosen as a candidate for this very important role and looking forward to convincing the people of Bedfordshire to put their trust in me in the election in November.

“As a former policeman in the Met I know that this role is all about re-addressing the balance in favour of the victims of crime rather than the criminal. We must have more visible policing, crackdown on anti-social behaviour, and when it comes to policing in their area, we must put the public in the driving seat. Those are my priorities; however over the coming months I hope to meet as many people as possible to gauge their views and enthuse them about the role and my candidacy.”

Runner-up Bernard Rix added: “I would like to congratulate Jas on his selection as the Conservative candidate for the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections this November. Jas will make an excellent PCC. I will give him every support during his campaign and once he has been elected as the PCC for Bedfordshire.”

Police and Crime Commissioners will replace the existing police authorities and will have responsibility for cutting crime, setting the annual force budget, and consulting with victims on policing priorities.

They will not be responsible for running the police, but will act as the voice of the local people and hold the police to account.

South West Bedfordshire, MP Andrew Selous, the Conservative’s lead member of parliament for the Bedfordshire PCC election, said: “I am delighted that we have such a strong candidate for the election on November 15. The role of Police and Crime Commissioner will be an important one.”

Mr Selous added: “The PCC will hold the Chief Constable of Bedfordshire to account for reducing crime and will in turn be directly accountable to the people of Bedfordshire as he or she will face re-election in 2016.

The current members of the Bedfordshire Police Authority have done a good job, but this new directly-elected role means that the people of Bedfordshire will for the first time have a single elected individual responsible to them for the policing needs of the community.”