Nigel Bonson – The Conservative Party Candidate for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

Nigel Bonson has spent his entire working life within the criminal justice system. He is currently an independent member of the Parole Board ensuring public safety is a priority when making decisions regarding a prisoner’s release. Nigel was a police officer with Greater Manchester Police for 30 years attaining the rank of Chief Inspector and latterly responsible for Criminal Justice Partnerships in Salford.

After a very successful police career where he specialised in community policing, partnership working, crime reduction and domestic violence, Nigel moved to become an Associate Trainer with The National Police Improvement Agency. Nigel also worked as a Neighbourhood Renewal Advisor supporting local partnerships in the delivery of regeneration and crime reduction working under contract to the then Labour government.

Nigel has completed secondments to both regional and national government including Home Office Safer Cities Co-ordinator, managing the Regional Crime Reduction Team at a regional government office, and working on generating crime and disorder reduction activity across many regional programmes. He has regularly briefed ministers on these activities and drafted speeches on their behalf.

Nigel has extensive experience of gun and gang culture which we have seen all too tragically in recent weeks and represents a continued threat to our communities. He has considerable experience of working in deprived areas with correspondingly high crime levels including Labour heartland estates. He has international policing experience, including tough areas like New York and Philadelphia where he worked to share best practice between U.K police forces and their American counterparts. On behalf of the British Government he visited Chicago to work with the Mayor and others to explore policing and housing policies.

Nigel Bonson has the courage to take the difficult decisions which will be necessary in the role of Police and Crime Commissioner. Unlike his opponents however, he has real experience of the role of a police officer and this gives him the means and the credibility to create effective working relationships with officers, officials and partners. Critically he says, he has the necessary insight to tackle inefficient working practices on the behalf of South Yorkshire people.

Contemporary negative press surrounding the police does highlight a need for us to recognise and challenge mistakes but they should not be allowed to shackle our force. We must work to ensure that officers are able to achieve maximum efficiency in reducing crime whilst ensuring public confidence and pride in South Yorkshire Police

“The role of Police and Crime Commissioner is not party political. I will be signing an oath of impartiality which guarantees that I will not be influenced by Government, the Opposition parties or the unions. We must not play politics with public safety. That is immoral. That’s not British policing. This is a unique and special opportunity to improve our police force on behalf of the people it serves; not a stick for political parties to beat each other with and must never be used to interfere with the Chief Constable’s operational control. I will, of course, fight for budgets that allow the police force to be of maximum effect in reducing crime. In return I will expect the police force to deliver on that.”

“Many candidates talk of returning officers to “front line policing”. These are empty words unless you have the ability to identify exactly what that front line is and the bravery to say what it is not. I have the skills and experience to work with the public, the police and their partners to identify and prioritise exactly where our resources are most needed and I have the courage to take decisions which make sure they get there.”

“My aim will be giving safety back to the public by giving strength back to the Force. Tackling Crime Together.”