AS many readers will know, the election for Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will take place on Thursday May 2. I would encourage everyone reading this column to back the Conservative candidate, Mike Johnson.
Mike has done a sterling job as the deputy for outgoing commissioner Peter McCall and would make a worthy successor.
His excellent record speaks for itself. He has achieved so much that is it difficult to believe he has only been in post for the past year.
In the last few months, thanks to record police numbers in Cumbria, Mike has introduced named community beat officers in places like Maryport, slashing antisocial behaviour there by more than 40 per cent, and in Carlisle where antisocial behaviour has dropped by 20 per cent in the east of the city, in comparison to the year before.
He has reopened police bases following widespread police station closures by the former Police Authority prior to the introduction of PCCs.
Cumbria now has record police numbers, higher than at any point in its history, showing what can be achieved under a Conservative Government, a Conservative PFCC, and Conservative MPs all working together for the good of Cumbria.
Mike has been working closely with the Chief Constable to introduce a dedicated Rural Crime Team, alongside dedicated firearms response units and roads policing teams. In the first four months, the new Rural Crime Team seized over £100,000 worth of stolen plant and equipment.
He has overseen the creation of dedicated local rural WhatsApp groups, so that intelligence is shared as it happens.
He has pledged to halve motorcycle theft in his jurisdictional area by the end of his four-year term in office. But Mike isn't resting on his laurels, and he has big plans to keep delivering for Cumbria.
I worked alongside Mike for several years on Allerdale Borough Council. I have seen first-hand the hard work and dynamism he brought to his role as council leader. He has brought the same energy to his role as deputy PFCC - and he has been hugely active and visible, engaging with a huge number of residents about their policing priorities.
He has met with community groups, attending life-saving advice sessions for residents around fire safety equipment including new firearms, meeting vulnerable women's groups, and helping to develop strategies to tackle rural crime.
Recently he sat down with Home Secretary James Cleverly to discuss his Plan for Cumbria. He also met with Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, to discuss how the Government can support Cumbria, particularly around the fire service.
The Cumbria Fire and Rescue inherited from the Labour/Liberal Democrat-run county council was an underfunded service with neglected estate and very poor HMICFRS report. This had been a cause for concern due to a dire lack of financial plan and no reserves, starved of cash by the Labour council who controlled it.
But within three months Peter and Mike have worked to rectify the financial planning, addressing these inherited problems.
Indeed, Mike has fought for (and won) from central government an additional £4.4m to improve the Fire Estate, fleet and ICT - and the service has already improved in only a year.
He is already working with the Chief Fire Officer to ensure a better future for our Fire and Rescue Service.
Should he be successful, I have no doubt that he will continue to perform an excellent service engaging with the public, settling policing priorities, and holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the people of Cumbria.
On May 2 there is only one man for the job - Mike Johnson.
