Conservatives and Green Party confirm candidates for Herts police and crime commissioner vote
The Conservatives have picked a former Mid Sussex district councillor as their candidate to be Hertfordshire’s next police and crime commissioner (PCC).
Jonathan Ash-Edwards is bidding to succeed fellow Tory David Lloyd, the only PCC that Hertfordshire has known since the role was created in 2012 to replace the former police authorities. Mr Lloyd has been holding the county’s constabulary to account for three terms. He announced in January he would not be standing in the election on Thursday May 2.
Mr Ash-Edwards will face St Albans city and district councillor Matt Fisher, who is the Green Party candidate, Labour’s North Herts district councillor Tom Plater and his district council colleague, Cllr Sean Prendergast, for the Liberal Democrats.
The Tory is the only candidate who does not currently serve on a council – he was defeated by the Lib Dems in Mid Sussex last May. He had been a councillor for 16 years after he was elected at the age of 20. He went on to spend 12 years as a cabinet member, deputy leader and then leader of the council before he was ousted.
On his new campaign website, he says he has a “strong understanding of the role of the PCC” through his work with Sussex’s Conservative PCC Katy Bourne “achieving the highest ever vote share, even beating the Greens in Brighton” in 2021 as her campaign manager. He has been a school governor since 2007 and founded the Sussex Learning Trust, which he now chairs.
His website says: “Alongside his public service, Jonathan is a serial business builder, creating jobs and delivering great services. He started his first business at the age of 24 and now works delivering major projects for clients.
“Jonathan and his team have experience in a wide range of fields including children’s services, employment support and services for disadvantaged groups, including managing commissioning budgets on behalf of clients.”
Mr Ash-Edwards now lives and works in Hertfordshire after meeting his partner – a teacher – who is from the county.
He says: “I want to give back to Hertfordshire by serving as its PCC, using my public service governance experience to prevent crime, catch criminals, support victims and deliver effective policing at a reasonable price. I want our family to be able to grow and thrive in a safe community. I want that for every family.
“Financial oversight will be a big priority for the next PCC, with the force forecast to soon have debts of £113 million, mainly due to the HQ development. I have experience in scrutinising major projects and will bring in external expertise to ensure the constabulary is financially sound.”
Portrait and event photographer Cllr Fisher’s experience ranges from teaching in South Africa to serving as a special constable. St Albans Green Party’s website says that as a Royal Navy officer, he honed his leadership abilities, particularly while working with special forces. This military background instilled in him the motto ‘The Team Works’, “which he embodies in all endeavours”.
He said: “I have a strong moral compass, a sense of duty and an innovative mindset. These qualities make me eager to collaborate with various community groups to develop strategies for safer, more vibrant communities.”
Green policing priorities include the introduction of tri-service safety officers who have training and powers as fire service first responders, paramedics, and police community support officers who are permanently based in one area where they can develop long-term links with the community.
At the same time, the party pledges to resist Government pressure for the PCC’s office to take control of the fire and rescue service, currently the responsibility of Herts County Council, because “the current form of control via representatives of the various local authorities is a better way of delivering accountability and resisting pressure for cuts”.
Elected PCCs were created to replace police authorities in 2012. They are responsible for overall policing strategy, producing a Police and Crime Plan, setting the force’s annual budget and holding chief constables to account.
