Northamptonshire PFCC candidate pledges 'visible leadership'

Martyn Emberson said he wants Northamptonshire's emergency services to work together more closely

A police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) election candidate said he would oversee more "visible leadership" in a county's emergency services.

Martyn Emberson is the Conservative candidate on the ballot for Northamptonshire's PFCC vote on 2 May.

Mr Emberson previously served as Northamptonshire's chief fire officer between 2006 and 2015.

"I want people to know who to contact," he said. "Teams are much more powerful than individuals."

Local councillor Danielle Stone (Labour) and former police officer Ana Savage Gunn (Liberal Democrats) are also standing for election, which will select a successor for the incumbent Tory PFCC Stephen Mold.

Mr Mold has stood down over misogynistic comments he made about Northamptonshire's chief fire officer Nikki Watson.

His decision to appoint Ms Watson was preceded by the controversial appointment of his friend Nicci Marzec - who had no operational experience for the role and ultimately resigned 10 days after taking up the position last July.

Serving PFCC Stephen Mold said he had decided to "do the right thing" and not seek re-election.

Mr Emberson said he "was looking to the future" as the Tory candidate in the election.

He said: "I've got a plan to deliver safer communities with the police and fire service going forward.

"I want to develop a police, fire and crime plan for the county which is developed in consultation with everyone in the county and addresses their needs - our needs - going forward.

The BBC has also spoken to the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates ahead of next month's election.

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After serving as Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service's (NFRS) chief fire officer, Mr Emberson became chief inspector of the Scottish fire service. In this role, he advised governments on policy and operational efficiency.

Mr Emberson is also a magistrate assisting in addressing adult and youth crime.

He said his "life has been about public service" and said the election "isn't about me as police, fire and crime commissioner", but was key to "the emergency services being seen in public".

Mr Emberson added that despite his background in the fire service, he had extensive experience of working with the police service throughout his career and was previously responsible for NFRS moving into Northamptonshire Police's headquarters in order to "work much more closely".