A NEW Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) will oversee the Avon & Somerset force after yesterday’s election.

Labour candidate Clare Moody emerged victorious in Thursday’s poll (May 2), receiving 95,982 votes and pushing the incumbent, Conservative Mark Shelford, into second place (91,006 votes).

She will take up for new role on May 9.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the people of Avon and Somerset in this role,” she said after the result was announced.

“Now that I am sworn into office, I will be visible, accountable and PCC for all residents of Avon and Somerset.

“The people of Avon and Somerset have communicated their priorities to me.

“On my time on the doorstep, people expressed that they want to see a greater connection to their local neighbourhood police and for their service to address and reduce violent crime, particularly knife crime and MVAWG, and to do all we can to prevent crime.”

But Oxfordshire-born Clare is no stranger to political circles.

The 58-year-old served as a Member of the European Parliament for the south west between 2014 and 2019, and worked in the policy unit at Number 10 under Gordon Brown.

A former union worker, she stood for parliament for Labour at the 2005 general election, where she polled in third place, and previously unsuccessfully ran to be PCC for Wiltshire, in 2012.

She is currently co-CEO of equality and human rights charity, Equally Ours.

The PCC oversees policing in the force area, with powers to lead priorities, funding and more.

The Avon & Somerset Police Area includes Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Former PCC, Conservative Mark Shelford, served one term in the role

Speaking before the vote, Clare said: “Labour will restore community policing after 14 years of Tory neglect.

“We will increase the number of neighbourhood police and PCSOs by 13,000 nationally, with guaranteed police patrols in town centres and every community in our area having a named officer they can get in touch with.

“Many of our streets feel less safe than ever, and over 14 years under this Government the police have grown more distant from the people they serve.

“The Tories are putting up your council tax again, while cutting PCSO numbers by 80 and police staff by around 200 in Avon & Somerset. They are letting people down across our region in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“My priorities, if elected with your support on May 2, are:

• Investing in neighbourhood policing: Building safer communities and helping to prevent and solve crime.
• Supporting victims of crime: Making sure victims are properly listened to, and get the help they need when they need it.
• Prioritising reducing violent crime: The scale of violent crime, including knife crime and violence against women and girls, isn’t inevitable but it needs focus and commitment to fix it.
• Preventing crime: Working with agencies across the public sector and civil society to prevent crime and build safer communities.
• Restoring trust and confidence in the police: Enabling the police to take pride in high standards.

“At the last election Labour were just 5% behind the Tories. A vote for anyone else just lets the Conservatives back in.

READ MORE: Avon & Somerset PCC candidates: Why they say you should vote for them

“My experience means I am best placed to restore the public’s trust in the police and be the voice of our local communities in policing – I will be visible and accountable to you.”

The full result in the Avon & Somerset PCC election was:
Clare Moody (Labour) – 95,982
Mark Shelford (Conservative) – 91,006
Katy Grant (Green Party) – 64,623
Benet Allen (Liberal Democrat) – 45,864