PCC Candidate Alan Hagger says resolving Salisbury Police Station must be a priority

Salisbury Radio has invited all candidates for an interview.

Alan Hagger, currently an Amesbury Town councillor, is standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate to become our next PCC in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Mr Hagger has a background in public service stretching back to the 1980's, working with children with learning disabilities. More recently he worked as the head of strategic commissioning for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

He says, "I've watched the role develop ever since it first came into being in November 2012. And I think that's why I am a firm advocate for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, which I think is really important."

On how he sees the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, he said, "I think the part of the role that everyone focuses on is the relationship with the police, and I think it is incredibly important you are elected by the people of Wiltshire and Swindon. You are there to represent them, to oversee and monitor the police and the Chief Constable. You hire and fire the Chief Constable. You monitor the performance of the police, you set the budget, you set the strategy.

"That is your job. You are not the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable is responsible for the implementation of the law, the structure and the organization of the police force.

"You hold them to account, but they have a separate job. But what you also do, and I think these are equally important, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is the only organization that is responsible for the support of victims of crime and anti-social behavior."

When asked what the priorities are for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, he said, "I can't say what the people in South Wiltshire need without talking to them. I have got lots of ideas. A police station in Salisbury would be a great idea. I've got lots of ideas, but I need to talk to people.

"I think anti-social behavior is probably pretty much top of that list as well. I know that Salisbury has got 21% of all the burglaries in Wiltshire and Swindon, and that is I need to talk to people about their experience and how they would actually want this to be addressed."

On a police station for Salisbury, Alan said, "I remember a year ago I went to a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner, and I saw a press release today and comments on social media today. And we don't seem to have moved on at all. I think the problem was if you close a police station without a plan, then it's going to lead to trouble.

"I think John Glen said something like, well, we will give the police as much time as they need in order to find a solution. I don't think he had ten years in mind. No. And so, no progress has been made. Now, I think there are different questions about the police station.

"The immediate priority for me in Salisbury at the moment is to have that accessibility, visible policing, a presence in the town.

"The issue of other places just outside of the town may be more appropriate for custody suites where you need more space. But that immediate issue about where you can go and report a crime, where you can register concerns, that needs to be in the town.

"I would not have thought that separating those two issues out and making one an immediate priority and one a medium-term priority is that much of a problem."

PCC Elections will take place on Thursday, May 2nd, the confirmed candidates so far are:

Mike Rees (Independent), Alan Hagger (Liberal Democrats), Stanka Adamcova (Labour), Philip Wilkinson (Conservative)

You can listen to the interview in full here, recorded on Wednesday, 3rd April 2024.: