South Yorkshire police boss to be announced today after votes are counted

Votes were cast last Thursday at the local elections but the count for the Police and Crime Commissioner role is taking place today.

Labour’s Dr Alan Billings, who was elected in 2014 after a bi-election and re-elected in May 2016, is up against David Chinchen for the Conservatives and Joe Otten for the Liberal Democrats.

If re-elected, Dr Billings said he would fund extra police officers in addition to those the Government has promised.

He said he also wants South Yorkshire Police to tackle crimes affecting communities, such as burglary, drug dealing, car theft and anti-social behaviour.

Dr Billings also wants the force to continue to tackle organised crime gangs.

Mr Chinchen is a retired police chief superintendent who served for more than 30 years in the Metropolitan Police in London, before moving to Sheffield six years ago.

He has also worked as an Immigration Officer and now runs a small, family business with his wife.

If elected he wants more of a focus on local policing teams and for small businesses to be protected from crime.

He said: “Our high streets and sole traders are suffering. These people work hard, create jobs and contribute to our communities. We must to more to catch criminals who target vans, tools and business premises.”

Mr Otten is a Lib Dem councillor for Dore and Totley in Sheffield and has been a member of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel for the last six years.

If elected he said he wants South Yorkshire Police to be ‘the example that others will follow’.

He wants more of an investment in neighbourhood policing in communities and the force to answer 999 and 101 calls more quickly.

He wants a focus on ‘crime and anti-social behaviour’, claiming too much police time is taken up with ‘non-crime work’.

The role of the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner is to monitor the performance of South Yorkshire Police and to hold the force to account.

The PCC sets the annual budget and publishes a police and crime plan detailing the issues officers will focus on.

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