THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED ON 22ND JANUARY 2019
Cheshire Conservatives have re-selected former police and crime commissioner John Dwyer to be their candidate in next year’s police and crime commissioner elections.
Commenting after his selection at a meeting at Weaverham High School, John said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected to be given the opportunity to run for this important role again.
“In November 2012 I was elected as the first police and crime commissioner for Cheshire.
“This was at the height of government austerity measures but, despite that, I was able to carry out a root and branch review which resulted in releasing £5m savings without impacting on staff or the service being delivered.”
Mr Dwyer continued: “I introduced a priority based budgeting approach to the constabulary which allowed me to invest in more police officers, raising the level of the establishment to almost the 2010 level when austerity measures started.
“Under my stewardship the Cheshire Constabulary was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary.
“Although my role wasn’t being inspected I took this rating as a clear indication that my leadership had made a significant contribution to this result.”
John was supported by Conservative MPs Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury) and Fiona Bruce (Congleton) as well as Conservative parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, Kieran Mullen.
Mr Dwyer added: “The constabulary also experienced reduced levels of crime whilst, at the same time, producing increased levels of detections.”
John, who currently works as a management consultant and is writing his biography ‘Plodding to the Top’ about his time in the force, added that his political priorities will be defined by public needs.
He said: “I want to hear from the public on the issues that matter to them. I will then ensure that they are reflected in my manifesto and, once in post, will be transferred into the Policing Plan.
“This document will then be the reference document for me to hold the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public of Cheshire.
“Whilst not getting involved in operational policing I would want to discuss the needs of the police with the Chief Constable and, if they are required to address the needs of the Policing Plan, do whatever I can to secure the funding to satisfy those needs.”
Who is John Dwyer?
John Dwyer retired from the Cheshire Constabulary in 2001 after a 30 year career in the service.
He held the role of assistant chief constable between 1994 and 2001.
Mr Dwyer was also a Conservative councillor on Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council between 2003 and 2009 and served as strategic board member with responsibility for safer communities between 2006 and 2009.
Following retirement, he developed his business interests, specialising in security and management consultancy. In addition, he served as a trustee and secretary of the Drugwatch Trust and as a trustee of Sanctuary for Veterans.
He served as the Conservative PCC from 2012 to 2016. He is the first person to hold the post, and was elected on 15th November 2012.
In the 2016 PCC elections, Labour PCC candidate David Keane ousted John Dwyer to take the office as Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner.
It was a close-run contest, with Mr Keane elected on a count of second preference votes.
Mr Keane secured 84,601 votes when first and second preferences were combined, while Mr Dwyer polled 81,652 votes.