Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner will seek re-election

Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner has pledged to stay on as a Mid Suffolk district councillor and seek re-election in May.

Tim Passmore stepped down as the council’s leader when he was elected as commissioner in 2012 but political opponents called on him to also relinquish his role as a backbench Conservative councillor as they argued it would be too much for him to juggle the position with his new £70,000 a-year police role.

Now, just a few months away from the district election, Mr Passmore has said unless anything “radically changes” he will seek re-election.

He said: “I have had discussions with the group leader and association to remain as a backbencher, which I would like to do at the next election.

“I think I have missed only one full council meeting (in the current financial year) which was because of a holiday, so I have been able to sort out my diary and I am going to parish council meetings as well.

“You get a different perspective as a district councillor, which is never meant to be a full-time job. As I have said before, quite a few people are county councillors and also on other councils; most MPs also have other jobs.”

He added it was important to remain in contact with residents to understand their concerns. In the current financial year Mr Passmore has attended two full council meetings out of a possible three.

Andrew Stringer, Green councillor and opposition leader at Mid Suffolk, who criticised Mr Passmore in 2012, said: “Being police and crime commissioner must take time away from him fulfilling his role as district councillor, which can be, at times, quite demanding.”