Thames Valley's police commissioner candidates

The Thames Valley policing district covers Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

The election to choose the next police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley will take place on 2 May.

The PCC's role is to hold the local police force to account.

Their duties include appointing the chief constable, setting the budget and deciding how much council tax precept to charge local people.

The district includes Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire as well as Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

This time votes will be counted via the first past the post method. The candidates below are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

Matthew Barber – Conservative

Matthew Barber was deputy PCC from 2016 and was elected PCC in 2021.

He is the former leader of Vale of White Horse District Council in Oxfordshire and his local government experience dates back to 2003.

Mr Barber said: “I am the only candidate who has set out a clear plan to make Thames Valley safer.

"Building on the work done over the last three years we can now reap the benefits of having more police officers than ever before and reducing levels of crime by becoming even more proactive and focusing on crime prevention.”

He said his plan would "protect communities", people and property.

Tim Bearder - Liberal Democrats

Tim Bearder has held cabinet positions at Oxfordshire County Council and was a journalist with the BBC South team.

"Communities across the Thames Valley are yearning for substantive change," he said.

Mr Bearder claimed the incumbent candidate was not prioritising domestic violence against women or reckless driving.

“I am committed to putting these issues at the top of my agenda so that our policing priorities are in line with the people’s priorities," he explained.

"I will also work to restore community policing, providing residents the assurance that law enforcement will be present and responsive when needed."

Russell Fowler – Independent

Russell Fowler started a fuel security device company based in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, and is a keen photographer.

He said he would challenge and support the chief constable if elected and said "justice and victims" must become the "number one driver" for Thames Valley Police.

"Justice cannot be compromised by political pressures," he said.

"I'm passionate about improving the quality and performance of Thames Valley Police and driving out corruption.

"Public trust in the police’s abilities and honesty is at an all-time low and won’t improve unless major changes are made."

Ben Holden-Crowther - More Police Officers for Thames Valley

Ben Holden-Crowther stood as an independent candidate for the Newbury constituency in Berkshire in 2019 aged just 19, finishing fifth.

He set up More Police Officers for Thames Valley and said he was campaigning heavily for better road safety.

Mr Holden-Crowther said he was "frustrated" about the money spent on staff for the PCC, which should be "directed towards" frontline officers.

"Especially at a time when police are under such pressure that even relatively serious crimes such as shoplifting and burglary are not given the attention they deserve," he said.

“Considering the current state of our police force, it's clear that short-term focused political parties should not be tasked with setting the policing priorities for our local area."

Tim Starkey – Labour

Tim Starkey stood unsuccessfully in the first Thames Valley PCC election in 2012.

He says he has 21 years' experience working in the criminal justice system as both a defence lawyer and prosecutor, including in the rape and serious sexual offences team in the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said he would try to fast track rape and sexual assault investigations, and that repeat shoplifters should be "banned from crime hotspots".

"I've seen how the system often fails people and what needs to change," he said.

"At the heart of my campaign is a mission to reverse the rise in knife crime, including through targeted interventions to help steer young people away from gangs and county lines."

He added: "We need urgently to rebuild public confidence in the Thames Valley police, which has been underperforming for far too long.

"People are crying out for more visible policing, which is why I'd strengthen neighbourhood policing teams."