Jonathan Wallace running for police oversight role
Local Liberal Democrats have chosen Dr Jonathan Wallace to be their candidate for police and crime commissioner (PCC) for the Northumbria force.
PCCs were created to oversee local police services. They are elected by people living in the police force area. The first elections took place in November 2012 but only one in six people cast a vote. The next election is in May 2016.
Labour's PCC has been invisible in many areas of the Northumbria force and Dr Wallace is promising to be a high profile commissioner in local communities if he wins in May.
"As a Liberal Democrat PCC, I will work within the system to ensure we get the best deal for Northumbria Police," said Jonathan.
"However, the PCC experiment has been a failure, especially under Labour. Not many people feel that they have a say over how the police force works for them. And community policing has been neglected by Labour.
"But ultimately, we could save a great deal of money by scrapping PCCs. If we could get rid of them, the money to pay them and run their offices could be used to employ more police in our local communities.
"If elected, I will lobby the government hard to scrap PCCs. Until they are abolished, I will battle to ensure community policing is at the centre of the Northumbrian Force's activities. I will be high profile, in touch with residents and not hidden away in an office in Newcastle."
Jonathan lives in Sunniside, Gateshead and is Leader of the Opposition on Gateshead Council. He was first elected in 1987 at the age of 23 while still a student at Newcastle University. He is a video maker, keeps goats, bees and poultry and runs a small business making preserves. You can follow his activities on his blogs www.jonathanwallace.blogspot.com and www.self-sufficientinsuburbia.blogspot.com.
Wallace warns of crime dangers if UK leaves EU
Liberal Democrat candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Northumbria, Dr Jonathan Wallace, has warned that the battle against crime will be made much harder if the UK votes to pull out of the EU.
The European Arrest Warrant ensures that UK police forces can bring back to justice those who have committed serious crimes and then fled to another European nation.
"Quitting the EU means we are quitting the various treaties and agreements that go with membership," said Jonathan.
"That means the European Arrest Warrant would no longer be available to UK police forces to bring back suspects for questioning or to face justice. That will make the battle against crime much more difficult when murderers, rapists and terrorists flee the UK.
"Membership of the EU has brought many benefits, and they are not confined just to economic issues. Tackling crime has benefitted directly from our membership of the EU. That progress is at serious risk if the UK votes to leave."