THROUGHOUT this week, the Gazette will be previewing the seven candidates for the Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner election on May 5. Today's candidate in focus is independent candidate and current PCC, Sue Mountstevens.

Sue Mountstevens is campaigning again to be Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner, after being first elected to the role in 2012, and again she runs as an independent candidate.

Having never stood for election before then, more than 125,000 people elected her through a combined total of first and second preference votes.

As an independent candidate, Sue is determined that party politics will have no part to play in policing, stating that the police force is a complex organisation, which provides an essential service 24/7.

She said: “There is no space for party ideologies to play a role.

“The police are there to keep us safe. Full stop. The police belong to you and not to any party machine.

"I want to continue to protect residents and police from political interference."

She added: “I have served as your police and crime commissioner without fear or favour for the past four years.

“I am funding my campaign for re-election myself on a very small budget, as I have always said that I am only answerable to residents of Avon and Somerset.”

The independent candidate wants to continue to work with the police in preventing crime across the region.

She believes that there needs to be reinvestment in the force, so that the police have the resources available to tackle and prevent child abuse and sexual exploitation of vulnerable children.

With extra money she secured from the Home Office, there is now a service across Avon and Somerset, and Wiltshire is currently supporting more than a hundred young victims of child sexual exploitation. Yet there is so much more to be done.

Sue said she will continue to be the people’s voice and be a fierce advocate on their behalf.

From listening to victims of crime and anti-social behaviour, she has worked with the police to set up an enhanced service to help vulnerable, intimidated or persistently targeted victims. Her aim is to continue this work, having already helped at least 25,000 victims with this tailored support.

Sue added: “Let me continue this work. Let me continue to be your voice. Together let us work with the police so we can all be safe, and feel safe.”