Katy Grant, Green Party Candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner;
"I am currently a Green Party councillor in Bristol, and a Family Court Magistrate for Avon and Somerset. I was raised on the Devon/Somerset border, so I know the SouthWest region well.
I have worked for twenty years overseas, largely with the United Nations, on issues of child protection and violence against women. I understand institutional reform, systems change in big bureaucracies, and how to set and manage budgets, as well as how to lead diverse teams.
I care passionately about the rule of law and protecting the vulnerable, and I also see the urgent need to address the social/foundational reasons people end up committing crime.
I intend to run a campaign prioritising crime prevention, working with minors who are both perpetrators and victims of crime, with a special focus on knife violence in cities.
We have seen recently in this region how much work still needs to be done to improve culture inside the police force.
If elected, I will strengthen the independence and accountability of misconduct panels, while building recognition of the integrity of the vast majority of officers. Above all, I will ensure Avon and Somerset Police get closer to and re-gain the trust of the communities they serve."