The Youth Voices team spoke with Festus Akinbusoye on why he has chosen to run as a candidate in the next Police and Crime Commissioner Election for Bedfordshire, which is taking place on Thursday 6 May 2021.  

He shared with us his views on stop and search, volunteering as a special constable, and undertaking a years worth of duties in 3 months. The impact of drugs and youth violence, early intervention programmes and the power of positive thinking and most importantly how he would help to turn over the town of Bedford by creating employment opportunities for Young People in the office of the PCC.  

If elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus has said he will:  

Invest to bring back community-based policing for both our urban and rural communities.  

Tackle drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and the causes of these crimes.  

Support law-abiding citizens' rights to a peaceful life in our county and put victims' needs first.  

Lead a multi-agency approach to early intervention and tackling re-offending.  

Lead an open and transparent policing area.  

Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to hold your police force to account for delivering the kind of policing you want to see. 

Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure your police force is effective.  PCCs bring a public voice to policing and they do this by:  

Engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set police and crime plans; 

Ensuring the police force budget is spent where it matters most; 

and  

Appointing, working with, and where necessary, dismissing the Chief Constable.  

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to ensure the policing needs of your community are met as effectively as possible, and to oversee how crime is tackled in your area.  

https://www.fest4bedspcc.co.uk/about-festus #youthvoices #yourvoicematters #thetownturnover #makebedfordbetter #fest4bedspcc

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