We are providing all the candidates seeking election as Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) with the opportunity to tell our readers what their priorities are, and to tell us a little more about themselves.
We’ve asked the same four questions to each candidate, for straightforward comparison, and we have invited candidates to supply social media and website links if they choose to.
In this article we speak to Ben Adams, standing for the Conservative Party.
Related topics:
- Click here to read other Staffordshire PFCC candidate interviews
- Click here to read other articles about the Conservative Party
- Click here to read other articles about the PCC elections 2021
(1) Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a 56 year old, largely self-educated, small business owner. I grew up in Sutton Coldfield and have lived in Staffordshire for 33 years.
I have a wife and two children now in their mid-twenties. I write business software and help organisations to manage change.
I co-owned an Apple Computer dealership before focussing on software. I have always been interested in politics and when family circumstances allowed I started trying to make a positive difference for people.
I have been a local and county councillor, twice run for parliament in Stoke-on-Trent North and in recent years been focussed on the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner role.
(2) What do you feel are the policing priorities in our area?
Staffordshire has low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour. We also have safe roads with low accident numbers and few fires so my plan is to keep Staffordshire safe.
I am conscious that criminals don’t recognise authority borders so we need strong relationships with neighbouring forces and to continue our effective major road policing partnership with West Midlands Police.
Crime is changing with most violence now in the home and theft carried out online so our services need to keep evolving with the workforce and technology to meet these challenges.
(3) What initiatives would you seek to implement if elected on 6th May?
Both our Police and Fire & Rescue services are judged to be good by HM Inspectorate but I believe they can be excellent.
The overwhelming desire of the public is to see more police out and about in their neighbourhoods so I will recruit 250 more officers to help bring this about.
I also know our communication with residents can improve, particularly our 101 non-emergency service.
I will be looking to reduce fixed costs and share back office services between Police and Fire so that we can invest in more specialist staff and the equipment they need to keep us safe.
(4) What skills/experience would you look to bring to the role?
I will use my experience of helping organisations to run efficiently to manage the £250m service budget while keeping council tax low.
I will use my 15 years of political experience to bring our councils, health authorities, businesses and schools together to tackle the underlying causes of crime.
I have worked across the county and city so understand the mix of rural and urban challenges that we face and I have successfully worked alongside the professionals who deliver services so I am ready to recruit the Chief Constable and Chief Fire Officer and hold them to account on your behalf.
