Northamptonshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner will officially start his first full day in the new job tomorrow morning.
Adam Simmonds, the winning Conservative candidate in last week’s election, will take the position following the abolition of Northamptonshire Police Authority.
He inherits the power to set key priorities, to hold the chief constable to account and to set police budgets.
Mr Simmonds was elected after he secured more than 40,000 votes - once both first and second preferences were taken into consideration - in the countywide poll.
The former County Hall executive beat Lee Barron, the Labour candidate, who could not have taken the job because of a previous conviction, into second place.
Speaking to the Chronicle & Echo this week, Mr Simmonds said he was keen to tackle drunken behaviour in the town centre and urged residents to get in contact with him through a number of street surgeries he plans to hold.
One of his first jobs will be to assemble a team around him, before writing his first budget in the coming weeks.
He said: “I’m not going to be desk-bound. I like the idea of holding things like street surgeries, standing in the town centre with a big sign asking people to talk to me.
“I will also be going to things like parish council meetings because my ambition is to be visible.
“I would like people to be able to email me and contact me to let me know their views.”
In an open letter to the people of Northamptonshire, published this week on his website, Mr Simmonds said he was “determined to make a difference.”
He wrote: “This campaign has never been about me, but about those who are unable to speak up for themselves and for those who have felt let down.
“I want to thank everyone who supported me through the campaign and with their vote.
“Some people continue to rubbish these elections and the idea of a police and crime commissioner.
“Those of us who want to look ahead and not back will move on, whoever we voted for and whatever we think. Together we can make this all happen. I am determined to make a difference.”
Mr Simmonds becomes one of 16 Conservative commissioners in the country, along with 13 Labour and 12 independent.
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