A FORMER chairman of the now-defunct Cumbria Police Authority admits he was initially sceptical when crime commissioners were introduced but is now determined to take on the job.

Reg Watson is standing as the Labour candidate in the Cumbria police and crime commissioner election, which takes place on May 7.


VISIT Work in progress at the police station being built at Durranhill, Carlisle, in 2008. Reg Watson visits the site. STEWART BLAIR Mr Watson describes himself as a "born and bred" Cumbrian and has been a county councillor since 1981 and was chairman of the old Cumbria Police Authority from 1989 to 2009, receiving an OBE for his contribution.

Police and crime commissioners were introduced in 2012, replacing the old police authorities which, in Cumbria, had 17 members on the panel.

Mr Watson, who lives in Carlisle, said the low turnout at the 2012 election - just 15.6 per cent - was worrying but believed he was the right person to take on the job now the role had been established. 

He said: "I was absolutely sceptical. Nobody was interested, nobody understood what it was about. They didn't realise one person would have all the power for four years. 

"People understand it a little bit more. I'm determined to have a go and really try to do something that they are not doing.

"I did the equivalent job for 20 years. I've appointed chief constables and dealt with the top ranks."

Reg Watson profile

Home: Tarraby, Carlisle

Experience: Former chair of Cumbria Police Authority; oversaw building of police stations in Workington and Carlisle; lobbying ministers over police spending; county councillor for Currock.

Priorities: Producing a plan and list of priorities for each district, focusing on individual community issues such as rural crime, hate crime and domestic violence; keeping the police budget.

Previous occupations: Former merchant navy officer; retired engineer.

Interests: Setting up and running Greystone Community Centre from scratch; gardening; quizzes; visiting family.

What does a police and crime commissioner do?

Mr Watson's biggest campaign will be to protect frontline officers from cuts and to bring back more PCSOs.

He said: "I think they have gone too far with the cuts. We shouldn't be cutting for the sake of cutting.

"There's always a lag with cuts and effects. We are starting to get to the position where the lag time is catching up and that's why we are not getting the highest standards we got in the past.

"The PCSOs need to be done more. They cut them.

"PCSOs are an important part of the eyes and ears of the community and, if we don't have them, we will lack a lot of intelligence to sort things out.

"They got accused of being plastic police and that's a big insult.""

Mr Watson says he doesn't believe in a one-size fits all approach to Cumbria and his priorities will be different in each district, from livestock thefts in rural areas to anti-social behaviour in town centres and neighbourhoods.

Other candidates announced so far  include Loraine Birchall (Lib Dem), Peter McCall (Conservative) and Mary Robinson (independent).

<strong>READ MORE:</strong> Interview with Loraine Birchall, Liberal Democrat candidate

<strong>READ MORE:</strong> Interview with Peter McCall, Conservative candidate

<strong>READ MORE:</strong>  Interview with Mary Robinson, independent candidate