A FORMER Government minister, a prominent councillor and a retiring Army colonel are in the running to be Cumbria’s next crime commissioner.

Lord Henley, John Mallinson and Peter McCall are all competing to stand on a Tory ticket.

Conservative Richard Rhodes, who is currently in-post, announced this week that he would not be seeking re-election next year.

Lord Henley is a lawyer who opted for politics after his father’s death in 1977, when he took up his seat in the House of Lords.

He lives at Scaleby Castle, near Carlisle, and has held ministerial positions under Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron.

His most recent position was in the Home Office as Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction.

On why he is standing, the peer said: “I want to do it because I think the police and crime commissioner was a very good introduction by (Home Secretary) Theresa May, who I worked with. It has been quite a success in bringing democratic accountability to the police service.”

Mr Mallinson is Carlisle City councillor for Longtown and Rockliffe and is also the leader of the authority’s Tory group. He is also the Cumbria county councillor for Houghton and Irthington and he lives in Belah, Carlisle.

He said: “I have always had an interest in policing. I was on the old police authority for a number of years and have continued that with membership of the police and crime panel.”

On issues he said: “The big issue is going to be one of funding. I believe I have the courage to take the difficult decisions that will come our way.”

Colonel Peter McCall is currently the human resources director of the Royal Logistic Corps and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

His 34-year career in the Army comes to a close in a few months’ time and he now wants to use his experience in this role. He lives in Hesket Newmarket, and is originally from Wigton.

“I’m a Cumbrian returning home to live in the county and I think after 34 years in a uniformed service I want to take what I have learned serving the country and put it to use now in the county.”

Mr McCall also wants to fight domestic abuse as he feels it has a strong impact on the way children of victims behave, and anti-social behaviour.

The three are due to face two selection events next week, one each in the north and south of the county.

Plans by other political parties are not yet known.