Nick Alston announces Deputy PCC candidate
Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has today announced Lindsay Whitehouse as his candidate for Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.
Mr Whitehouse is required to appear before the Police and Crime Panel, who will hold a confirmation hearing on Thursday May 9th, 2013.
Mr Alston said “Over the past few months I have become increasingly sure that I need a Deputy to help me carry out effective scrutiny of Essex Police and to drive community crime reduction work across Essex. Since December, my office has been carrying out a review to scope the role requirement and the work that the Deputy will do.
“In keeping with my desire to be open and transparent and uphold the highest integrity that this office requires, I openly advertised the position and I attached no party political requirements. I was very pleased to receive a number of applications and held two rounds of interviews of selected candidates with a panel of assessors.
“I am extremely pleased to introduce Lindsay Whitehouse who is currently Deputy Governor of HM Prison Chelmsford, and is chair of the Essex Criminal Justice Board Public Confidence Action Team. He possesses considerable practical expertise both in the criminal justice sphere and in managing large budgets efficiently and effectively. During the past five years, efficiency savings of 18 per cent have been delivered in HMP Chelmsford, whilst independent inspections have consistently praised the prison’s culture and performance.
“The Police and Crime Plan for Essex is built upon a determination to tackle the cycle of re-offending, to steer young offenders away from criminality, to reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and to address the horrors of domestic abuse. Lindsay Whitehouse brings a wealth of experience to support the Police and Crime Commissioner, Essex Police, the Community Safety Partnerships and the voluntary sector in these challenging but crucial efforts to help keep Essex safe.”
Mr Whitehouse said “I am pleased and honoured to have been selected by Mr Alston after a rigorous and tough competition for the post. I am encouraged by the potential that this new role has in bringing real scrutiny to the performance and finances of our police service and crime prevention schemes. My experience in public and private service has given me wide experience of dealing with new and difficult challenges. I approach the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner with an aspiration to make Essex safer for us all and uphold the highest levels of integrity that the Commissioner has set. I also bring a determination to promote the interests of victims of crime and to support victims in any way that I can.”
Mr Alston added: “I am committed to running the Office of the PCC as efficiently and effectively as possible, at a cost around twenty percent below that of the old Police Authority just three years ago. This includes the salary of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.”
If confirmed, the Deputy PCC will receive a salary of £55,000 per annum.
