Labour candidate for West Mercia Police & Crime Commissioner, Dr Simon Murphy, was out and about campaigning in Ross last Thursday lunch time.Dr Murphy was speaking to local people and handing out campaign leaflets in the town, in preparation for the election on November 15th.

Afterwards, Simon came into the Ross Gazette office for a chat. Asked about the general feeling he was getting from the people of Ross about the elections, he said: "Most people are saying I'm the first candidate they've seen on the streets of Ross. They're saying what people across the region are saying to me time and time again - that they want more police officers on the streets, and that's what I'm pledging to deliver."

Campaigning on a promise of fighting the government's cuts, Simon explained how he aims to achieve that. He said: "I want to try and generate more money in order to get more police officers. We can utilise police buildings, rent space out. I can use my experience in the public sector to make this happen. We can also look at how we use the proceeds of crime.

"I also won't be a cheerleader for the police. I will keep Ross police station open, and I want to have police on the streets who you can get to know, and who will get to know you.

"I can deliver what people want. It's not going to be easy to resist the cuts as the government has dealt us a really duff financial package, but if the Police & Crime Commissioner is going to mean anything I have to deliver more police. This is going to involve some challenging conversations with the Police Constable."

For the rest of this story please see this week's Ross Gazette.

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