Over 120 candidates will be contesting the position of Police and Crime Commissioners for 41 police forces in England and Wales.
The elections will be taking place on 15 November and more candidates are being added onto the ballot papers.
We’ve seen some veteran parliamentarians throw their names into the ring including Lord Prescott, former MP Jane Kennedy and current MP Tony Lloyd.
We take a look at some of the other interesting candidates standing.
Nick Varley, Durham Constabulary, Conservative
Varley first stood as the Conservative candidate for Durham in 2010, making him the youngest ever Conservative candidate to stand for a seat - he hadn’t even graduated yet.
Varley was in his second year at Hull University studying law and came third behind Labour’s Roberta Blackman-Woods and Liberal Democrats’ Carol Woods.
After graduating, Varley became a senior caseworker at the House of Commons. Of course it hasn’t been an easy ride with critics panning Varley as ‘too young’ for a role that involves negotiating with chief constables.
Why does he want the job?
“I want policing to focus on the needs of Durham’s many communities and will put the personal touch at the heart of how we fight crime in our county.”
Michael Felse, Greater Manchester Police, English Democrats
Youth worker Felse once stood in the Doncaster mayoral election in 2009 and also contested Dewsbury in the 2010 election. A colourful fact about this candidate is that he was chosen to be the ‘parade queen’ at the Manchester Pride Festival last year.
Felse is known locally for his work with the gay, lesbian and bisexual community and is currently welfare officer at Manchester’s Northern Wave gay and lesbian swimming club.
Why does he want the job?
“I have a very clear direction on policing. I think it’s very wrong that we don’t have police on the beat as we used to.”
Fran Croucher, Kent Police, Independent
The former Kent police officer resigned earlier this year after she was accused and later cleared of wasting police time.
Croucher was found unconscious by colleagues, who said that she had been attacked whilst on duty. The prosecution claimed the attack had never taken place as her injuries were not serious enough.
The lengthy court case prompted Croucher to resign, and at the time of her resignation, she said that she would be bringing a civil case against Kent Police.
Why does she want the job?
“My two year ordeal has been well publicised and whilst justice for me as a victim of crime has not been secured it has made me adamant that for others it will be, ensuring all care and courtesy be extended to those who fall victim to crime.”
Martin Young, Thames Valley Police, Independent
Martin ‘Maverick’ Young’s eligibility for the position has been a source of contention, but a criminal record hasn’t stopped Young from standing for the elections as an independent.
Young pleaded guilty to a public order offence in 2008, after a dispute with a council officer over the phone. Young got a two-year conditional discharge and his collection of 350 antique guns and firearms licence were seized by the police.
Recently he fought Oxford City Council over its move to allow Oxford Brookes University to build a new campus and also tried to create his own private rubbish tip.
Why does he want the job?
“I feel strongly about issues of justice, not just because they have jumped out of the grass and hit me on the nose, but I do, I just do.”
Fergus Wilson, Kent Police, Independent
Property tycoon Fergus Wilson and his wife Judith were ranked 453rd on The Sunday Times rich list with a fortune of £180million in 2008.
However, it later emerged that the couple were also in arrears on their mortgage payments (£350,000 worth) and in 2009 the couple announced that they would be selling their entire portfolio.
Wilson’s eligibility for the role has been questioned when he admitted that he had only just learnt who the current chair of the police authority was and further questions were raised after giving incorrect definitions of robbery and burglary.
According to The Sun he also wants cheaper mortgages for police in Kent.
Why does he want the job?
“I was concerned about the amount of petty crime that was affecting our properties that was not being cleared up. It may have been low level crime but the police just don’t have the resources.”
Alan Charles, Derbyshire Constabulary, Labour
The Derbyshire councillor controversially stepped away from the contest after it emerged that a minor offence he committed in his teens 47 years ago would bar him from standing for the role. He was the second candidate to step down after Labour’s Bob Ashford was also blocked for a crime he committed when he was 13.
Home Office rule stated that candidates who have been convicted for a criminal offence and imprisoned are not qualified to stand. He was later reinstated as the Labour candidate after legal advice ruled that Charles’ minor offence as a juvenile didn’t count as he received a conditional discharge and not imprisonment.
Why does he want the job?
"It's... appalling that, on average, a victim of domestic abuse will have suffered 32 incidents of abuse before making that first vital call for help... I want to reassure everyone for whom 'home' can be 'hell' that, when I am Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner, their cries will not go unheard."
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