Everything you need to know about the upcoming PFCC election

Thursday, May 2 is polling day across the country with David Allen standing for Labour, Mike Johnson for the Conservatives and Adrian Waite for the Liberal Democrats.

What does a PFCC do?

The PFFC in Cumbria is elected to oversee the police force and the fire service in the county and to hold the chief constable and chief fire officer to account.

Their job is to secure efficient and effective police for their area, set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan and set the force budget and determine the precept for the area.

Cumbria first elected a PCC in 2012 with the Conservative winning the three elections since.

This is the first time that the county has gone to the polls since the fire service brief was added to the PCC’s role, turning it into the PFCC.

Who is standing?

Liberal Democrat - The Liberal Democrat candidate for the PFCC election is Adrian Waite, who is also the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Barrow.

Liberal Democrat PFCC candidate Adrian Waite (Image: Supplied)Mr Waite is a town councillor in Kirkby Stephen and an experienced accountant.

He has called for more police visibility in our town centres ahead of the upcoming poll and a rural crime crackdown.

Labour - Labour’s candidate, David Allen, was raised in Grange Over Sands and Cartmel and joined Cumbria Constabulary in 1986 where he was posted to Carlisle.

David Allen, Labour's PFCC candidate (Image: Supplied)Following a lengthy career at Cumbria Police he has since worked for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and led the UK’s Bureau at Europol in the Hague.

He has called for a named community officer for every electoral ward in Cumbria.

Conservative - The Conservative candidate for the election is Mike Johnson, who is the current deputy PFCC.

Deputy police, fire and crime commissioner, Mike Johnson with Keswick’s community beat officer (Image: PFCC)Mr Johnson was born and raised in Cumbria, currently represents Thursby on Cumberland Council and was the final leader of Allerdale Borough Council ahead of local government reorganisation in 2023.

Mr Johnson has said that he is committed to ‘building’ on the work done by Cumbria’s 60 community beat officers.

How can I vote?

Anybody wishing to vote must have already registered to do so. Your nearest polling station will be on your polling card which are sent out from the council. Anybody who has not received their polling card must contact the council. Here is a list of polling station locations.

This election is the first in Cumbria in which all voters must provide ID in order to vote. ID that is accepted include a passport, driving licence, older person’s bus pass or a voter ID card sent out in advance.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. The results are being counted overnight and the result will be announced in the early hours of Friday, May 3.

Are there any other elections going on?

There are no other major elections occurring on May 2. Town council elections were due to be held across Cumberland but they have been decided uncontested.

Prime minister, Rishi Sunak has said that the general election will be held in 2024 but he hasn’t announced a date.