Lib Dem set for fight to be new commissioner

Pendle councillor Graham Roach has been chosen to fight for the role, at the election on May 5.

He said: “I am delighted to have been chosen by my party and look forward to putting forward a distinctive Liberal view of the role of Police Commissioner.

“As Commissioner I will spend at least half of my time out and about meeting people and the police in all the different parts of Lancashire.”

The former special constable has launched his campaign with a “four-point plan” to help people across the county.

In reference to local neighbourhood policing, he said: “It’s about local knowledge and an intelligence based approach to beating crime, not just walking the streets”.

He said he wanted to keep Lancashire as a police force, and said: “Joining up with a larger and less efficient force in Manchester or Merseyside would just see us sidelined.”

He said: “I will work with the Chief Constable to issue a weekly bulletin via social media, the local press and a range of local channels. Lancashire is being starved of what it needs to police the county properly. As Commissioner I will lead the campaign via all parties and none for more resources from Government.”