Police and Crime Commissioner Elections 2024
Police and Crime Commissioner candidates pledge to support Restorative Justice
In advance of the Police & Crime Commissioner elections next month, Why me? have launched a pledge campaign which aims to get PCC candidates to publicly declare their support for Restorative Justice. In this first phase of our campaign, we have sent out the following pledge, urging PCC candidates to sign it.
Having sent out the pledge to all prospective candidates, we received lots of positive responses – offering support for Restorative Justice, requesting further meetings should they be elected, and agreeing to sign the pledge. Whilst some candidates felt unable to commit publicly to the pledge, they nonetheless offered their support and encouragement, pointing us to work they had done to promote Restorative Justice in their area.
We are delighted at the positive response we have received, and feel reassured that Restorative Justice is a priority for so many candidates.
Why does it matter?
Police and Crime Commissioners are key players in the national Restorative Justice landscape. Their role involves managing policing and determining how crime is dealt with in their area. As part of this responsibility, they distribute the Ministry of Justice’s Victims Fund to victim services to ensure that victims of crime can access the support they need. This means that without PCC buy-in for Restorative Justice, RJ services can be left underfunded and deprioritised, meaning it is much harder for people affected by crime in that area to access it. It is therefore crucial that we get PCC candidates on board, publicising their support so voters can make an informed decision about whether the person they are voting for will support crucial services they may come to rely on.
By signing the pledge, candidates are offering a commitment to people affected by crime, making them accountable to make the pledge a reality if they are elected. After the election, we will follow up with those who signed the pledge and will support them to implement best practice, adequately fund the service and dismantle the barriers to access faced by so many.
Who has signed the pledge?
So far, 42 candidates have signed our Restorative Justice pledge!
Avon and Somerset, Benet Allen
Cambridgeshire, Edna Murphy
Cheshire, Paul Duffy
Cumbria, Adrian Waite
Cumbria, David Allen
Cumbria, Mike Johnson
Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Daniel Steel
Dorset, Marianne Storey
Dyfed Powys, Dafydd Llywelyn
Dyfed Powys, Justin Griffiths
Gloucestershire, Chris Nelson
Gwent, Hannah Jarvis
Gwent, Mike Hamilton
Hampshire, Becky Williams
Hertfordshire, Sean Prendergast
Hertfordshire, Tom Plater
Humberside, Bob Morgan
Kent and Medway, Lenny Rolles
Leicestershire, Fizza Askari
Merseyside, Emily Spurrell
North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin
Northamptonshire, Ana Savage Gun
Northumbria, Susan Dungworth
Northumbria, Ros Munro
Northumbria, John Appleby
South Wales, Dennis Clarke
South Wales, Sam Bennett
South Yorkshire, Douglas Johnson
Staffordshire, Alec Sandiford
Staffordshire, Ben Adams
Suffolk, Rachel Smith-Lyte
Surrey, Paul Kennedy
Surrey, Alex Coley
Sussex, Paul Richards
Sussex, Jonathan Kent
Thames Valley, Matthew Barber
Thames Valley, Tim Starkey
Warwickshire, Sarah Feeney
West Mercia, John Campion
West Mercia, Sarah Murray
Wiltshire, Alan Hagger
Wiltshire, Stanka Adamcova
We will update this list as more pledges are signed. If your local candidates aren’t on the list, consider reaching out and letting them know how important Restorative Justice is and urging them not to miss the chance to show their support! If you are PCC candidate and would like to find out more about the pledge, get in touch with Keeva Baxter at keeva.baxter@why-me.org.
What can I do?
- Encourage your local candidates to sign the pledge by explaining how important Restorative Justice is to you as a constituent. The campaign will ensure that Restorative Justice is on the agenda for the incoming PCC.
- Vote in the elections on the 2nd of May. Make sure your voice is heard by voting for the person who represents your beliefs and what you want to see in your community. If you are based in London, Manchester or Yorkshire you may not get the opportunity to vote for a PCC separately to your vote for the Mayor, however, the Mayoral office will also act as PCC in these areas.
- Keep an eye out for the next steps of our campaign. After the elections, Why me? will be launching another ‘10 asks’ campaign which will highlight the actions PCCs can take to maximise access to the RJ service in their area. Once this launches, we will let you know how you can get involved. The best way to keep up to date is by signing up to our newsletter.
