Commissioner candidates face tough questions from University students

Most of the candidates for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner faced probing questions from the next generation of journalists during a husting at the University of Northampton today.

The husting, held in collaboration between the University and NLive Radio, began with an introduction which explained that the Conservative candidate, Martyn Emberson, was invited but would not be attending due to his campaign policy.

Instead, Labour’s Danielle Stone, introduced as a veteran local councillor and Liberal Democrat Ana Savage Gunn, an experience former police officer, sat next to an empty chair as they responded to student’s questions.

Candidates faced questions from the university’s journalism and policing students about knife and drug crime, burglaries which do not receive a visit from an investigating officer, racism and sexism within the fire service, the impact of an overstretched court service and overcrowded prisons, and whether people should be barred from becoming a local councillor if they have a criminal record.

Journalism student Fran Roche asked what the practical steps the candidates will take to stop knife crime.

Ana said studies in Scotland showed early interventions can have an impact and that current efforts would improve if more organisations like sports clubs, schools and charities were invited to join the fight against knife crime.

Danielle said the Labour Government was committed to stopping the supply of knives and that she wanted youth services like Sure Start reinstated.

Student Liam Kendal said those with a criminal conviction could not stand for election to the Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and asked whether local councillors and MPs should be barred from standing for election if they have a criminal conviction.

Ana said local authorities work with vulnerable people and was staggered councillors did not need a criminal background check, adding: “I truly believe that they should not be in that job if they have a criminal conviction or couldn’t pass a DBS check because you and I probably have to if you wanted to work in my mum’s care home.”

Danielle said: “I’m not in favour of things you’ve done in the past dogging you forever and a day and ruining your life, I think there’s always room for rehabilitation. But I think it’s completely outrageous that we don’t expect public figures to have DBS checks, of course they should.”

To listen to the hustings in full visit the NLive Radio website.