North Yorkshire is one of the safest places in England.
Since being elected to serve as your Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012, I have worked hard to keep it that way. This includes a recent announcement for a major recruitment for police, to reach 1,400 officer and 200 PCSOs.
I have also driven through service improvements, particularly for vulnerable people. I set up a new, dedicated hub to support victims of crime in North Yorkshire; increased financial support for domestic and sexual abuse survivors by 140%; and brought in specialist services to help the most vulnerable victims, including sexually exploited children.
Following a high profile campaign, I was instrumental in the establishment of four health-based places of safety so that people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act no longer needed to be held in police cells. Beforehand, North Yorkshire had been the only place in the country without such facilities.
But I know that North Yorkshire can do even better. That's why I have pledged to help fund street triage services, along with mental health professionals in the police control centre.
Having grown up on a hill farm, and being responsible for one of England’s largest rural forces, I am keen for rural communities to be served effectively by the police.
Over the next four years I know that North Yorkshire can be a better and even safer place to live.