Last updated at 11:55, Thursday, 08 November 2012

RICHARD RHODES (Conservative), 70, lives in Staveley-in-Cartmel. He has been chairman of the Cumbria Probation Trust since 2008 and on the Cumbria Probation Board since 2004 and chairs the Safer Cumbria Direction Group. He is a former magistrate in Barrow and in Fleetwood and Lytham in Lancashire and was a headmaster for 22 years.

Richard Rhodes

He says: “My plan for Cumbria as a whole is to establish an Executive Committee to determine policy and strategy that is deliverable within budget, including crime mapping, revealing the time and place of criminal activity.

“I also plan to create an Office of Public Engagement, reacting to public opinion, and to establish an Office of Victim Support, overseeing compensation and practical help for victims, including domestic violence. This would involve voluntary and public sector organisations.

“I plan to promote Restorative Justice to reduce re-offending by commissioning from the public, private, and third sectors with four main target areas:

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR. Crime is crime and it doesn’t lessen its impact by calling it anti-social behaviour.

VETERANS. There is a disproportionate number of veterans in prisons.

YOUTH JUSTICE. We need much more coordinated action dealing with youth crime.

RURAL CRIME – action on farm thefts, poaching and fly tipping.

“I would embrace the work of local authorities, Safer Cumbria, Community Safety Partnerships, and health and wellbeing boards. In addition, Copeland has two particular requirements. Sellafield is policed by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary which does not come under the police and crime commissioner. This requires close collaboration to ensure public safety.

“It is also a diverse area. Whitehaven, with urban crime issues, contrasts with smaller towns such as Egremont and Cleator Moor. The many villages such as St Bees, Gosforth, Seascale contrast with a large rural area.”

First published at 11:53, Thursday, 08 November 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk