Meon Valley MP leading hunt for Tory candidate for new top police job (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Meon Valley MP leading hunt for Tory candidate for new top police job

7:00am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Winchester

MEON Valley MP George Hollingbery is looking for potential Conservative candidate for Hampshire's new American-style police commissioner.

Mr Hollingbery is his party's campaign co-ordinator for the election on November 15.

He wants a strong candidate and not necessarily a politician for the new £85,000 a year job.

The new role's aim is to cut crime and deliver an efficient police service by holding the Chief Constable to account.

Mr Hollingbery said: “This is an exciting and powerful role within Hampshire and it needs to have the best people standing for election to it.

“Ultimately a police commissioner can dismiss the chief constable, so it's a big deal.

“The winning candidate will have an important role in setting police priorities. That could mean focusing on bobbies on the beat or whether enough is being done to combat burglary and anti-social behaviour.”

He added: "So far Former Home Secretaries, police officers, journalists and military leaders have all expressed an interest in the role, but that doesn't mean other professions are excluded. We want to hear from anyone who feels they have the skills and experience."