Candidates announced

The list of candidates standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner election for the Avon and Somerset Police Area has been published today (Friday 5 April).

On Thursday 2 May, voters in the Avon and Somerset Police Area will vote to elect their new Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) oversees your local police force and ensures they are prioritising what matters to you. The Avon and Somerset Police Area includes Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

The candidates standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner election are:

Benet Allen, Liberal Democrats

Katy Grant, Green Party

Clare Moody, Labour and Co-operative Party

Mark Shelford, Conservative Candidate – More Police, Safer Streets

The full list of candidates including candidate statements can be viewed at www.choosemypcc.org.uk from 9am on 10 April or residents can call 0300 131 1323 to request a booklet to be sent to them.

In order to vote residents must be on the electoral register. If you are not on the electoral register at your current address, you must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 16 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you have any queries, contact your local authority Election Team.

Voters have a range of options for casting their vote – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote  on their behalf, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

Residents voting in person at the polling station will be required to show an accepted form of photo ID to the polling station staff. If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate before the deadline at 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

If you have any questions about Voter ID or would like to request a paper form to apply for the Voter Authority Certificate, contact your local authority Election Team.

Will Godfrey, Police Area Returning Officer for the Avon and Somerset Police Area, said: “This is an important election for our area, so please make sure you’re registered to vote in time for the deadline. You can vote either at a polling station, by post or by proxy. If you wish to vote in person, please remember you will have to take accepted photo ID to the polling station.

For further information on the Police and Crime Commissioner election visit www.avonpccelection.org.uk