I am delighted that the Lib Dems have selected my good friend and colleague, Paul Kennedy, as our candidate to be Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner in the election on 7th May 2020.

Paul Kennedy is a former barrister, accountant and actuary with over 30 years leadership experience working in both private and public sectors.  Paul is hardworking and popular Mole Valley District Councillor, representing Fetcham West ward.  He has previously overseen a number of professional and public bodies on behalf of the public, and is offering a fresh approach to policing in Surrey.

We want to bring back community policing, get drugs off our streets by cutting county lines and deliver a fairer deal for Surrey. Theresa May’s failed PCC experiment has been a disaster for Surrey policing.  The first Commissioner was at war with his own Chief Constable, and his Conservative successor has increased Surrey Police’s share of Council Tax by nearly 23%.  But we have nothing to show for our money but rising crime, more drugs and fewer police on our streets.

As a Lib Dem in Mole Valley, Paul has seen at first hand the impact of withdrawing community policing, and increasing lawlessness on our streets.  These have been exacerbated by Conservative cuts to youth services, mental health and road safety at Surrey County Council.  We need a new partnership with Surrey Police and a fairer deal for the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep us all safe.

Paul is up against two Conservative candidates: the new one they have selected, and the old one they have rejected.  The last thing we need is another Conservative Commissioner to do the bidding of Dominic Cummings and Priti Patel.  Votes in this election can send a clear message to the Conservatives, and choose to get some proper professional oversight of Surrey’s Police on behalf of residents.

The Lib Dems came a strong second across Surrey in December’s General Election with nearly 180,000 votes, more than double the first preference votes of the winning Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate at the last election.