THE candidates in the running for the role of Cumbria’s police and crime commissioner battled it out in a hustings last night.

Curious residents arrived at The Forum in Barrow to put their questions to the five candidates running for the position. 

The police and crime commissioner is a role that acts as a representative of the public and holds those who run the police force to account. 

Dave Coverdale chaired the event organised by the Evening Mail and spelled out the importance of this role for members of the public. 

He said: “The role of the police and crime commissioner is to oversee the police and ensure they are working for you. They are elected by you and are there to ensure the policing needs in your area are met as much as possible. 

“Next week 40 police and crime commissioners will be appointed across the country who should act to bring a public voice to policing.” Five candidates are in the running for the role, each representing a different political stance. 

Last night’s hustings tested the mettle of each of the candidates by asking them key questions involving the role of police community support officers, tackling crime at night and how different areas of the county will be served. 

Brendan Sweeney, deputy leader of Barrow Borough Council, asked the candidates how they would ensure the needs of Barrow were met when only one candidate lived in the south. 

Michael Pye, UKIP candidate, said: “The only way we’re going to do this is by coming down and meeting people in the Barrow area.” Conservative candidate, Peter McCall, agreed saying: “It’s incumbent that whoever gets this job gets their backside out and about. I’m not a desk jockey and want to be out and about as that’s the only way to see what’s going on.” 

Reg Watson, the Labour candidate, wanted to use officers to feed back to base. He said: “We have more people in offices than we had when we were a police authority. We’ve got the staff and there are three main district areas in Cumbria. I would have one of my staff allocated to each of the areas to feed in whatever is happening in that area.” 

Mary Robinson, the only politically independent candidate, wanted to work with other organisations. She said: “The chairman of the community safety partnership should have their fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in that area and hold regular meetings with the police and crime commissioner.” 

But Loraine Birchall, the Liberal Democrat candidate, thinks there is only one option. She said: “I think we should use technology wherever possible but there are times when you want to look someone in the eyes and see if you’re getting an honest answer.” The elections are on May 5.