New Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner dodges scrutiny

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire (PCC) pulled out of his planned meeting with the county council’s public health and community safety panel in June. The new PCC said it was not his intention to attend meetings unless he ‘thought it was of value’. His predecessor, as the PCC, David Lloyd, regularly attended meetings at County Hall and understood the value to both the county council and the police force in him doing so.

Cllr John Hale speaking after a meeting of the panel said, “I am very disappointed; we had a good working relationship as a panel with the previous PCC, David Lloyd, who was keen to work with the county council and with county councillors across all parties. Mr Ash-Edwards appears not to wish to work with the county council on improving community safety.”

Cllr Ron Tindall, who was a member of the Police Authority before it was abolished with the creation of the PCC role, said “The PCC’s predecessor, David Lloyd met with County Councillors on a regular basis to discuss policing matters of concern to all of us. In doing so he acknowledged the role the county council plays in community safety through the Fire and Rescue Service, Trading Standards and Public Health as well as councillors’ key role in representing the interests and concerns of all of Hertfordshire’s residents. Mr Ash-Edwards is a taxpayer funded public servant, he should expect to be scrutinised. Instead, he seems to be dodging it.”