Becky Williams, Labour’s candidate for the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner election, has answered a series of questions ahead of the polls opening on 2nd May.
4 candidates are vying to become the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) this year. PCCs are elected representatives who hold police forces and chief constables to account and decide how much residents pay towards policing through their council tax.
Throughout the 4-year term, the role includes publishing a police and crime plan, which involves consulting with the public on their priorities and then detailing how they aim to address these issues.
Ahead of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight PCC election, the Local Democracy Reporter Scheme asked the 4 candidates a total of 10 questions to provide an insight into their policies and personality. Only the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates responded. The other candidates are Don Jerrard (The Justice and Anti-Corruption Party) and incumbent Donna Jones (Conservative).
Below, Labour’s Becky Williams discusses financial challenges, visible policing and building trust…
Why should people care about the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner election?
The police and crime commissioner (PCC) election for Hampshire and Isle of Wight is vital because the PCC sets local policing priorities, manages the police budget, ensures accountability, impacts community safety, represents public interests, and influences the broader criminal justice system.
Effective PCC leadership directly affects residents’ safety and quality of life, making it essential for community members to engage in this election.
What are the biggest challenges facing Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in the next four years?
Over the next four years, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary will face significant financial and budgetary constraints. Careful scrutiny of fund allocation is essential to ensure the best outcomes for residents while building and maintaining trust and safety.
This will necessitate creative approaches to budget management and the development of initiatives that optimize the use of available resources.
Does Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have enough police officers and what should the priorities be for the force?
Although there has been a recent increase in the number of police officers, we still have not reached the staffing levels that existed in 2010, before the reductions in police funding.
Therefore, there is a clear need to further increase our numbers to enhance community policing and reassure the public through greater visibility
The force’s priorities should focus on ensuring visible policing and building sufficient capacity to respond to and thoroughly investigate crimes at all levels. Notably, the lack of response to low-level crimes significantly undermines public trust, and addressing this should be a critical focus.
What do you see as the most important function of the police and crime commissioner position?
The paramount function of a police and crime commissioner is to serve as the voice of the community, ensuring that residents’ concerns and priorities are heard and addressed.
Simultaneously, it is crucial to hold the chief constable accountable for the efficiency and effectiveness of policing operations, ensuring that they align with the public’s expectations and safety needs.
The police and crime commissioner is a political role. How much political experience do you have?
Although the position of police and crime commissioner is politically appointed, I believe that the essence of the role transcends party politics. The primary focus should be on advocating for and supporting the communities we serve.
I have been actively involved in local politics for two years, during which I made history as the first Labour councillor elected in my home ward in May 2023. Over the past year, I have also held the shadow portfolio for operations, gaining valuable experience in public service and community advocacy.
What is or was your day job outside of politics?
For the past 15 years, I have worked as support services operations manager at a business and technology consultancy, where I have overseen various departments including finance, recruitment, HR, security, vetting, and project support. This role demands exceptional stakeholder relationship management, especially as we work with public sector clients.
Before this, I worked with a local charity, initially providing finance and administrative support, then managing a drop-in café for marginalized young people in our community. In this role, I also mentored several youths and facilitated anger management training. My professional journey began after I qualified as a nurse in 1991.
What is the one top achievement you would like to deliver if elected PCC?
If elected as police and crime commissioner, my top priority would be to restore trust in our police force and enhance the sense of security and safety for all communities throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Crime, in its various forms, affects our towns, cities, and rural areas differently. I am committed to ensuring that residents everywhere—whether in urban streets or rural lanes—feel safer and more secure than they have in years.
What crime blights people’s lives the most and how can it be tackled?
Crime that most significantly blights people’s lives often depends on the context of the community, but generally, violent crime, anti-social behaviour and property crime tend to have the most profound impact.
Violent crime, including assault, robbery, and domestic violence, deeply affects individuals’ sense of security and well-being. Property crime, such as burglary and vandalism, also significantly disrupts lives by causing financial loss and contributing to a feeling of vulnerability.
Should Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents expect to pay more towards policing every year and why?
Whether residents of Hampshire and Isle of Wight should expect to pay more towards policing each year depends on several factors, including the current funding levels, community safety needs, and broader economic conditions.
The decision to increase funding for policing should involve public consultation and consideration of the trade-offs between taxation levels and the desired quality and scope of policing services. This ensures that the funding model aligns with the community’s expectations and needs.
And lastly, who is your role model in life?
One of my role models is Nelson Mandela. For me, he is a great role model because of his incredible strength and dedication to fairness. Even after spending 27 years in prison, he chose to forgive and bring people together instead of seeking revenge.
His commitment to equality and his kind, humble nature has inspired me and many people around the world. Mandela’s life shows us how one person’s actions can make a big difference in fighting for justice and treating everyone with respect.
Report by Jason Lewis – Local Democracy Reporter Scheme
Answers to questions nobody asked (probably).
Yes, there seem to be a lot of nobody’s recently.
I asked them though, as did the majority of alert people.
Zzz another troll answer, why would you trust anything this spinster says? Shes just a plant to install party political control over the police. Lies lies from tiny eyes.
So, a woman with no actual experience in law and order and whose role model is someone who was a member of the south african communist party is running for police and crime commissioner – a wasted vote
Neither has Donna Jones, the present incumbent, whose role model is Bob Seely, a pro right-wing militia. Next?
Troll, Bob Seeley and Donna Jones are the same person, have you ever seen them phogographed together in the same place at the same time? No, think about.
And, don’t forget, the founder and leader of a paramilitary organisation – the paramilitary wing of the ANC, known as the MK, which killed many innocent people (as well as military and police) in bombings, rocket attacks and shootings?
How can someone hoping to become Police and Crime Commissioner use a communist, paramilitary leader of an organisation which murdered both police and innocent people as a role model?
I know that Nelson Mandela has been given the status of sainthood in recent times, but in the 1980s he was the founder of an organisation which is about as far from that as it’s possible to get. How does a potential Police and Crime Commissioner reconcile that? It’s akin to saying she admires Gerry Adams and the IRA.
Should Hampshire and Isle of Wight residents expect to pay more towards policing every year and why?
no.
we should be seeing a reduction in costs – ie disbanding this stupid role she is banging on about
Question:- Do you think the police should managed by someone who was not on a political agenda.
Each force is managed by a Chief Constable who is not a politician. The role of the PCC is not to manage but to hold the Chief Constable to account for how the Force performs. Personally, it is my view that PCCs should not run for election on party political tickets and neither should they be former police officers.
Not speeding cars, not drugs, not even rowdy kids but violent crime.
Now we realise why Donna Jones was completely ineffective, she was pandering only to a vocal, unseeing minority.
1 Will plod remove the Feral teenagers from our streets?
2 Will plod Stop Vehicles parking on the Pavement along Regent St Shanklin?
3 Will plod Stop Vehickes parking on Double yellow lines outside Sandown Pier?
4 Will plod Stop speeding on the Island, or Drink and Drug Driving?
I doubt it very much, so what is the point, we will just keep paying more of our
Council Tax money to a service that is not fit for purpose.
As long as pop Up Bob’s BFF the outgoing PCC !!! Doesn’t get another term to churn out lots of words.. but nothing ever gets done .. just sticking plaster fixes.. a complete waste of time for Hampshire and the IOW ..
It’s all about the the money honey over a £ 100,000 a year for what Britain is fast becoming a lawless society
Where’dya pluck that figure from then? Second thoughts I don’t want to know…
The salary for this post is £84k.
Red Tories.
The only real choice to fix the UK is the Reform party.
What with Lezza Fox at the helm bahahaha should be renamed the Bellend Party
Absolutely correct, which is why the looney lefties are voting your comment down.
This country wouldn’t be in the mess its in if we’re not for 13 years of labour, and a Conservative government that swung so far to the left in a vote grab/appeasement of the left just to hold power.
REFORM!!
Demonic citizens want demonic leadership.
No point voting we will still get charged more for less service! Police are so short staffed that crime does pay as you don’t get court!!!