The three men standing for top local policing role

Local elections are taking place EMN-210429-131000001

There are three candidates to replace Lord Willy Bach, who is standing down after five years in office.

Rupert Matthews is running for the Conservatives.

He spent two years as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East Midlands, from 2017.

Labour candidate for Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, Ross Willmott EMN-210427-185427001

He formerly worked in publishing.

Mr Matthews wants to see rural crime, burglary, knife crime, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, and drug gangs dealt with more effectively.

He said: “As PCC I will commission effective services to support and care for victims of crime, while taking proactive steps to prevent crime from happening in the first place.”

Ross Willmott is standing in the election on behalf of the Labour and Co-operative Party.

Conservative candidate for Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, Rupert Matthews EMN-210427-185437001

He was a Leicestershire County Councillor for 12 years and also led Leicester City Council for a decade.

During his city council terms he introduced city wardens to help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Willmott pledges to improve community policing, defeat knife crime and tackle domestic violence.

James Moore is the Liberal Democrats’ candidate.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner, James Moore EMN-210427-185417001

Mr Moore is a long-serving member of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough council.

He teaches history and politics at the University of Leicester.

Mr Moore wants to reverse the cuts in local policing and place a focus on dealing with burglary and street violence.

He said: “We need more police in our local towns and villages.

“We do not want everything centralised in Leicester.”