For the very first time, a resident from the Isle of Wight, will be standing for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Robin Price has been chosen to represent the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Labour Parties in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 5th May.
A long career in law
A solicitor, who ran a clinic in Portsmouth – giving free legal advice – and worked for Portsmouth City Council, Robin has lived most of his life in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
He’s lived on the Island for 30 years and has run his own firm of solicitors in Ryde since 1986, which included criminal and family work. Robin has extensive experience of the courts system and has previously held the role of President of the Isle of Wight Law Society.
Price: “Our police force must be properly resourced”
On the subject of cuts to the policing budget, Robin said,
“The Commissioner’s job is an important one and, if elected, I will certainly make clear to Government that the £80m cuts in police spending in our area have had a serious effect on the ability of officers to detect and investigate crime.
“We have lost 780 officers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2010 and 70% of theft cases are now closed without even a suspect being identified.”
Robin added,
“The Government has said that crime is declining, but cybercrime has doubled, violent knife and gun crime has increased and sexual offences are only now beginning to be recorded properly.
“Our police force must be properly resourced to deal with these problems and their many other roles, such as helping people with mental health issues.”
A local candidate with plenty of experience
Island Labour Secretary, Ed Gouge, said,
“It is good to have a local candidate and we are pleased to have someone with so much experience of the justice system.”
Expect to see Robin in your area over the coming months. He plans to visit communities to find out about what their priorities are.
