Ian Sharpe: Supporting OUR Police to deliver YOUR Priorities

I'm Ian Sharpe, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Please see my manifesto below for how I want to improve policing in our area.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home and walking down their own streets. But for too many people,that’s simply not the reality.

The Conservatives have long talked tough on crime, but failed to even get the basics right. Their unnecessary cuts have left our police forces overstretched, under-resourced, and unable to focus on the crimes that affect our communities the most.

There are than 5,900 crimes are going unsolved each day in England and Wales. In the year ending in September 2023, nearly 2.2 million investigations into reported crimes were closed by the police without a suspect being identified. Meanwhile, only 5.9% of crimes led to a suspect being charged or summoned – letting thousands of criminals off the hook while victims are denied justice. 3 in 4 burglaries and car thefts went unsolved in the year ending September 2023.

To make matters worse, huge backlogs in the courts are further denying victims the justice they deserve.

Up and down the country, Labour and Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners have failed to push for the change our communities deserve. That is why I am standing as PCC for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, to support our Police to make a real difference.

Instead of more empty promises, I will commit to what actually works to stop crime – proper community policing, where officers are visible and trusted, with the time and resources to focus on neighbourhood crime.

I believe that the current PCC is wasting money. The office costs and spin machine costs £5 million a year. Yet he has set a budget for the Police which requires them to make £5 million in cost savings, cutting vital support staff jobs and even threatening the number of Police officers.

I would put more money into front-line policing and crime prevention measures. Targeting domestic violence and sexual assault, rural Crime, anti-social behaviour, City centre street crime and on-line Fraud.

I call for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and able to focus on preventing and solving crime.

I have lived in Leicestershire for 28 years. I am a retired Finance Director, I was also the managing director of an aerospace business and led an international renewable energy business. I was lead member for finance for Charnwood borough council. Since retiring I have undertaken voluntary work in vocational education. I believe I have the skills and experience to make a difference.

I will support OUR Police so they can deliver the priorities of OUR community.

At last May’s local elections the Lib Dems were the big winners in Leicestershire and Rutland and lead more Councils than either Labour and the Conservatives. I am the main challenger to the Tories. With your support I can make a real difference to our community

Ian Sharpe
Ian4llr@icloud.com
07549 110858