Tim Passmore addresses candidate Jane Basham while making a speech after winning the election for Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner at the Suffolk Constabulary headquarters on Friday, 16 November.

Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner takes declaration of office

Anthony Carroll Wednesday, November 21, 2012
3:26 PM

Suffolk first police and crime commissioner has formally taken his declaration of office today before formally taking on the role at midnight.

Conservative candidate Tim Passmore was elected to the role last Thursday, despite receiving fewer votes than his Labour challenger Jane Basham in the first round of counting.

He won through after second preference votes were added in – and took the declaration of office for the role just hours before formally becoming commissioner at midnight.

The short ceremony at Suffolk police headquarters saw Mr Passmore read out the declaration of office and he then outlined his principles before he was formally welcomed to the new role by chief constable Simon Ash.

Mr Passmore insisted that he would police in the interests of everyone who had voted in Suffolk, not only those who had supported him.

He said: “We have had a very smooth transition to the new organisation, and I am here to work with everyone in the county.

“Suffolk needs to continue to be a wonderful place to live, work and invest in – and I shall be working to try to maintain that.”

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Passmore said he hope that as he got down to work, his role would become clearer – he has to produce a first draft of the crime reduction strategy by the end of January.

“Hopefully by the time the next elections come around, people will have a clearer understanding of the role and more will feel they should vote.”

Mr Ash welcomed Mr Passmore to the role and said he was looking forward to working with him over the next few years.

He said; “There are considerable challenges ahead, like cutting £7 million from the budget this year coming on top of the £5 million last year.”

But the force had been becoming more efficient and was working closer with Norfolk – resulting in a fall in the level of crime which he hoped would continue over the next few years.

5 comments

Phew, I just read in the business section 'Archant man is given role with the PCC' but fear not it is a different PCC so not a kickback.

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Police Commissioner ???

Thursday, November 22, 2012
Fenscape & popeye, shame on you! Or rather I should say congratulations for getting through uncensored! Now we know why the EDP has been so biased and no criticism of SB was allowed. I am no fan of the way he has handled the police budget, in particular the unrestrained council tax rises, but let's not forget he was the chairman when te NPA appointed that 'highflyer' who left to go to London to investigate some shadey media empire and ended up working for it.

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Police Commissioner ???

Thursday, November 22, 2012
Jewson & Bett!!! Can't wait for all those hard hitting EDP24 reports exposing poor police performance and financial extravagance. Oh have I posted on the wrong news story?

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popeye

Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Glad that Mr. Passsmore will police in the interests of everyone that voted, but what about the 85% of Suffolk's population who didn't vote? And in answer to his observation, hopefully by the time the next election comes around, the candidates will have a clearer idea of what they need to do to get the voters interested in voting.

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SideshowBob

Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Amazingly, a story along the same lines about Norfolk's PCC isnt allowing comments.... I wonder if it's because a member of Archant's board was in the queue to slap Stephen Bett on the back and the editors at the EDP thought it might be like shooting fish in a barrel to allow the public to voice their opinion on the subject??

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Fenscape

Wednesday, November 21, 2012