On Thursday, May 2 there are elections for the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. Rye News has asked all four candidates for their thoughts on policing in Rye.
Paul Richards - Labour
I am firmly committed to keeping Rye Police Station open. It is vital that there is a
physical presence in the town. Further, I will extend opening hours so the police are more accessible to people in Rye.
My plan for policing in Sussex is based on more police, organised in neighbourhood teams, on regular foot patrol. We know this prevents crime and reassures the public. It was a huge mistake for the Tories to cut 20,000 police from our streets, and no wonder people in Rye hardly ever see a copper, and don’t feel any safer than 14 years ago.
Nine out of ten crimes go unsolved. Looting from shops is out of control – just ask the retailers in the town. Often, the police simply don’t turn up. By recruiting 400 more police and PCSOs if Labour wins, I will improve response times and rebuild trust in the police. I will improve the ways we treat victims of crime and witnesses. All too often criminals get away with it because victims drop out of the system, or witnesses are scared to get involved.
I want to tackle hate crimes, and violence against women and girls. Young people have little to do. I would invest in youth clubs, boxing clubs, green schemes – anything to give the youth a sense of purpose and a safe place to be.
As the Labour and Co-operative candidate, I will come to the job with a fresh approach and a different set of values. I will use the huge police budget to favour local suppliers including small businesses and co-ops. I want to see every inch of land owned by Sussex Police used for affordable housing, community allotments, orchards, and pollinator-friendly plants.
I will introduce participatory budgeting to involve people in Rye in how their cash is spent. Most of all, I will ensure the police crack down on robbery, burglary, domestic violence, shoplifting, and the crimes and antisocial behaviour that blights our community and ruins lives. Tackling rural crime will be central to my plan, with two new rural police hubs in East Sussex.
People in Rye tell me the same thing: it is time for change. By "lending" Labour Co-op your vote on May 2, you can send Sunak a signal that it is time for change.
VOTING INFORMATION
You can find your polling station here: https://www.rother.gov.uk/findmynearest
You will need proof of ID to vote in person, the official Electoral Commission guidance is here:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id
