ON May 5 Wiltshire will go to the polls to vote for who they want to oversee the county’s police force.

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are responsible for setting up policy, deciding the police budget and holding the county’s police to account.

The post was brought in by the last Coalition government, but the inaugural elections were tainted with terrible turnout of around 15 per cent nationally.

This year it is hoped with more publicity the community will engage more with the elections.

The Standard spoke to the four candidates vying for the position in this year’s elections to got their views on the priorities for policing in Wiltshire.

THE incumbent, Angus Macpherson, was the first PCC for Swindon and Wiltshire and having been responsible for setting up the office of the PCC, he is now looking to the future.

The 63-year-old argues that to make front line services more available, efficiencies need to be found in the force, efficiencies Mr MacPherson says he has found while working as the PCC.

“I have worked hard to reduce bureaucracy and the cost of policing whilst ensuring that all our resources go towards reducing crime and ensuring [residents’] safety,” he said.

“I have spent much of my time as your PCC delivering value for money.

“My office and police panel cost less than the old police authority and the Wiltshire policing precept is the lowest in the South West.

“By reducing rank structure we’re using that money for front line officers.

“It’s all about protecting number of officers on the front line.

“We have worked hard to put more officers out in their communities and this has been done by smarter working, better technology and a reduced rank structure.

“In essence I am keen that our police spend their time chasing criminals and not efficiency targets.”

Mr MacPherson is pleased with the work he and his office have done since during his term as PCC.

“I monitor police performance weekly but an independent annual assessment is made by HM Inspector of Constabulary which graded Wiltshire Police ‘good’,” he explained.

“Victim satisfaction has been maintained at above national average levels and Wiltshire has also become a national leader in the implementation of witness and victim care programmes.”