Cllr Matthew Taylor is a councillor on North Norfolk District Council and the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk
There is a good chance that the election taking place in Norfolk on 16th July will be the last Police and Crime Commissioner election Britain ever holds.
The Government intends to abolish the role in just two years’ time, replacing elected commissioners with a new model of democratic oversight. Whether that ultimately happens remains to be seen – but it does raise an obvious question.
Why would anyone put themselves through a county-wide election to do a job that may only exist for another two years?
I’ve been asked that question countless times since becoming the Conservative candidate for Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner – to me, the answer is remarkably simple.
Two years is a long time when you’re the victim of crime.
For nearly five years I’ve served as a local councillor – first at district level and now on Norfolk County Council. During that time, I’ve helped residents with countless cases. Most have involved the everyday business of local government, but the cases that stay with you are different. They are the ones that stick with you for years after they are closed.
The family living with violent intimidation. The woman suffering domestic abuse. The parents worried about drug dealing near their children’s school. The elderly resident whose life has been made miserable by persistent antisocial behaviour. The small business owner repeatedly targeted by shoplifters who seem to face no consequences. Seeing, firsthand, the impact crime has on individuals, families and communities changes your perspective. This is why I’m standing.
Fortunately, Norfolk is not a dangerous county. We remain one of the safest places in England, and our police officers perform an exceptional job under increasing pressure. But being one of the safest counties should never become an excuse for complacency. There are still problems that blight lives and undermine confidence in our communities. Over the past five years, three issues have consistently dominated the conversations I’ve had with residents.
The first is antisocial behaviour.
Too often it’s dismissed as low-level nuisance. Anyone who has dealt with persistent intimidation, vandalism, drug dealing or threatening behaviour knows it can make daily life unbearable. Left unchecked, it destroys confidence in communities and leaves people feeling abandoned by the authorities.
Secondly, people want to see the police again.
Neighbourhood policing matters because visibility matters. Officers walking the beat don’t simply reassure the public – they prevent crime, build trust and gather the local intelligence that makes policing more effective. People should know who their local officers are, not only see police cars passing with blue lights flashing.
Finally, victims deserve better.
Crime doesn’t end when someone is arrested. For many people, that’s only the beginning of a long and often frustrating experience. Victims deserve to be listened to, kept informed and treated with dignity throughout the criminal justice process. Supporting victims is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
These aren’t priorities I’ve selected because they poll well. They’re the issues I’ve encountered repeatedly as a councillor. They are the concerns raised in village halls, on doorsteps and in community meetings. They’re the problems that keep returning because people want practical solutions rather than quick social media clips or soundbites.
But they are not the only issues that deserve attention.
Rural and environmental crime are too often overlooked, yet fly-tipping costs taxpayers, farmers, rural businesses and community groups thousands of pounds every year. It isn’t simply an eyesore – it is organised criminality that damages our countryside and leaves others to pick up the bill. As Commissioner, I’ve committed to bringing forward a new fund to help support people across Norfolk when they are victims of this awful crime. The local authorities aren’t interested if it isn’t on public land, so I say to the farmer facing a £40,000 bill to clear up waste dropped on his field, let me help support you.
The same principle applies to road safety. Every year, families across Norfolk suffer the devastating consequences of collisions that could have been prevented. Following Reform UK deciding to end the County Council’s Local Member Fund here in Norfolk, many communities have lost a flexible source of funding for small but important safety improvements. I want to establish a dedicated Road Safety Fund through the Commissioner’s office, enabling communities to bid for practical projects that reduce casualties and make our roads safer.
The Commissioner doesn’t run Norfolk Constabulary day-to-day. The job is to set priorities, commission victim services, scrutinise performance and ensure taxpayers receive value for money. It means supporting officers when they do well and challenging the force when standards fall short.
It combines local democratic accountability with operational independence. It gives communities a direct voice over policing priorities whilst allowing professional police officers to do what they do best.
Whether the role survives beyond 2028 is, in one sense, beside the point. The people of Norfolk still deserve someone prepared to spend every day of the next two years making their communities safer. If, when the office eventually disappears, Norfolk has stronger neighbourhood policing, better support for victims, tougher action against antisocial behaviour, cleaner rural communities and safer roads, then the final Police and Crime Commissioner will have justified the existence of the role.
That’s my one goal.
P.S – the campaign is in full swing here in Norfolk – if you want to lend a hand, any support would be gratefully received.
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