New PCC Colin Sutton targets rural crime in Norfolk

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Norfolk's new Reform police and crime commissioner (PCC) has targeted rural crime as one of his priorities after his election success.

Colin Sutton said resources sucked up by Norwich and market towns needed to be spread more fairly.

The former Met Police detective, who received 32,647 votes, some 14,000 more than his nearest rival, said: "Rural crime is a concern. I think farmers and agricultural communities have had it really rough in recent years.

"We need to make sure they are not experiencing thefts of equipment or hare coursing on their land."

Mr Sutton, who lives near Diss and is Reform's national policing and crime advisor, added: "There's a feeling that Norwich and the big towns are sucking all the resources in, when lots of other parts of the county need them.

"Norfolk has an excellent police force, but too often it has ignored our rural areas in favour of our city and towns.

"That will change, and I will ensure that Norfolk Constabulary is a police force for the whole county."

Reform celebrates Colin Sutton becoming Norfolk's new police and crime commissioner (Image: Denise Bradley)

During his time with the Met Police, Mr Sutton led the investigation which culminated in the conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield for the London murders of Amelia Delagrange in 2004 and Marsha McDonnell in 2003, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy in 2004.

Bellfield was sentenced to a whole life tariff in 2008. Three years later he was also convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler.

Mr Sutton, who retired from the police in 2011, also led the investigation into Delroy Grant, a serial rapist who became known as the Night Stalker, during his 30-year career.

He said his knowledge of policing meant he "knew what is needed to hit the ground running", although he acknowledged he would need to understand how the force operates.

But he said: "I think there are some areas where the public thinks it does not get the attention that it deserves.

"I cannot just throw money at every problem, but there are sometimes ways to do things slightly differently."

Mr Sutton becomes Norfolk's fifth and, as it stands, final police and crime commissioner, succeeding Sarah Taylor in the £76k-a-year post, following her resignation last month.

The count for the Norfolk police and crime commissioner (Image: Denise Bradley)

But only 17.14pc of the public – 122,739 of the 716,224 electorate – headed to Norfolk polling stations to vote for a post which is due to be axed in two years.

The election is estimated to have cost £2m to hold, meaning it cost £16.29 for each person who voted.

That was the second lowest turnout for a countywide election in Norfolk’s history, with only the first PCC election in 2012 lower, when turnout was just 14.5pc.

Mr Sutton won with 32,647 votes, with Conservative Matthew Taylor second with 18,343.

Matthew Taylor, Conservative Norfolk police and crime commissioner candidate. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Green Martin Schmierer was third with 16,907, with Norfolk businessman Marcus Pearcey, who ran as an independent fourth with 16,402.

Martin Schmierer, Green police and crime commissioner candidate (Image: Denise Bradley)

Labour's Beth Jones secured 14,192 votes, Restore Britain's Mark Buckton garnered 13,319 and Liberal Democrat Chris Brown was in last place with 10,499.

Marcus Pearcey, independent police and crime commissioner candidate (Image: Denise Bradley)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Colin has worked at the very highest level of law enforcement.

"So often, these positions are occupied by politicians with no experience of our police. Norfolk now has an experienced PCC who can hit the ground running from day one."

The police and crime commissioner’s powers include being able to hire and fire the chief constable, while they also set the constabulary’s budget, including how much in council tax goes to the police.

They publish a police and crime plan – setting out the force’s priorities and commission services for victims of crime.

But the post is due to be abolished in 2028 when the powers pass to the new mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Sarah Taylor (Image: Jason Bye)

Ms Taylor stepped down from the post in June, saying her family had experienced "multiple bereavements and ill health" and that a close relative had received a "life changing" diagnosis.

She has since started a new job.

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