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Hertfordshire’s new police and crime commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards: ‘Where Conservatives have done well, it’s because they have a really clear offer to people’




Conservative Jonathan Ash-Edwards has become Hertfordshire’s second-ever police and crime commissioner (PCC).

The Tories’ winning streak in the county remains unbroken, after the poll on Thursday (May 2), as he takes over from David Lloyd, who had held the role since it was established in 2012.

After the count at Cheshunt’s Laura Trott Leisure Centre on Saturday (May 4), Mr Ash-Edwards said: “It’s a really good result for the Conservatives in Hertfordshire and I think it’s because we have had a really clear message – more police, safer streets, action on crime.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, right, signs a declaration as he becomes Hertfordshire's second-ever police and crime commissioner, overseen by returning officer Jeff Stack. Picture by Will Durrant
Jonathan Ash-Edwards, right, signs a declaration as he becomes Hertfordshire's second-ever police and crime commissioner, overseen by returning officer Jeff Stack. Picture by Will Durrant

“I think people have responded to that. That’s been really good.

“I think we’ve seen that across the country – where Conservatives have done well, it’s because they have a really clear offer to people.

“We’ve already got more police officers in Hertfordshire than we’ve ever had before as a result of the work that my predecessor has done and as a result of the Government’s uplift programme.”

Former Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd and the county’s Chief Constable Charlie Hall
Former Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd and the county’s Chief Constable Charlie Hall

According to Home Office figures, 2,083 officers were employed in front-line roles across the county on March 31 last year, up from 1,891 in 2010 and 1,667 in 2015.

“I know people want to see more visibility, more responsiveness, and that’s what I’m going to be working with the chief constable [Charlie Hall] to deliver,” Mr Ash-Edwards added.

“The whole point of police and commissioner roles is to ensure that local people, through the PCC, are able to influence the policing priorities in their local area.

“I think it’s really important that that is what we allow to happen and that we don’t have too much Whitehall meddling in that.

Hertfordshire's new Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards. Picture by Will Durrant
Hertfordshire's new Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards. Picture by Will Durrant

“The point of the PCC role is that people can hold me accountable at the ballot box in four years.

“There are some challenges for policing at the moment and everyone’s got their role to play in backing the police on the front line, who run towards danger when everyone else is running away.

“It’s really important that government, that PCCs back the men and women on the front line to go after criminals and keep people safe.”

Green Party candidate Cllr Matt Fisher, left, with Labour’s Cllr Tom Plater at the Hertfordshire PCC election count. Picture by Will Durrant
Green Party candidate Cllr Matt Fisher, left, with Labour’s Cllr Tom Plater at the Hertfordshire PCC election count. Picture by Will Durrant

Mr Ash-Edwards, who was leader of Haywards Heath-based Mid Sussex District Council from 2019 to 2023, said: “I know there are things that people want us to go even further on in Hertfordshire.

“People have raised burglaries during the campaign. Burglaries are low, but people want more action to tackle burglaries.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Sean Prendergast. Picture by Will Durrant
Liberal Democrat Cllr Sean Prendergast. Picture by Will Durrant

“I think it’s about making sure we are responsive to what people want to see, but we’re starting from a good place.

“David Lloyd has left a good legacy – more police, one of the safest places in the country and one of the lowest policing [council tax] precepts in the country as well. There are some really good foundations to build on.”

Less than one-third of Hertfordshire’s electorate voted on Thursday, but the turnout of 29.3% – down from just under 37% in 2021, when county council elections were held on the same day – was still one of the highest in the East of England region. Next door in Bedfordshire, turnout fell below 20%.

Mr Ash-Edwards won with 93,658 votes. He was more than 25,000 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat Cllr Sean Prendergast, who was second with 68,264 votes, just 1,679 ahead of Labour’s Cllr Tom Plater in third with 66,585. Both are North Herts District Council members. In fourth place, the Green Party’s Cllr Matt Fisher, a member of St Albans and City District Council, won 26,714 votes.

The Conservatives’ headroom over the Lib Dem was much smaller than in 2021, when Mr Lloyd finished 67,590 votes ahead of second-placed Sam North.

“We ran a really good campaign,” said Cllr Prendergast.

“The Tories had a really strong majority and they’ve dropped 12 percentage points this time. That provides us with a really exciting opportunity for next time.

“We’ve had really strong results in certain pockets, such as St Albans, Dacorum and Watford, so there’s lots to build on in certain parts of Hertfordshire.”

Cllr Prendergast, a former police community support officer, said: “There needs to be a strong focus and emphasis on community and neighbourhood policing. It’s absolutely essential in preventing crime. It’s an opportunity to build strong relationships with communities.”

Cllr Plater said: “Our [party] focused really heavily on rural crime, violence against women and girls, and anti-social behaviour.

“I’m going to be keeping Jonathan’s feet to the fire on all of those issues because I think it’s really important that the PCC is the voice of the people to the police.”

Cllr Fisher said he would like to see Hertfordshire Constabulary’s priorities go “back to basics – neighbourhood policing, presence, visibility and collaboration, connecting with all of the residents and understanding what all of their woes are.”



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