Paul Kennedy for Surrey's Police & Crime Commissioner
On May 2nd, you get to decide who you trust to hold Surrey Police to account.
Here in Surrey, it is a clear choice between Lib Dem Paul Kennedy - a hardworking local councillor with the professional experience to do the job - or four more years of being taken for granted by the Conservatives.
Cllr Paul Kennedy is a former barrister, accountant and actuary with over 30 years experience working in both private and public sectors. Paul has a strong background in criminal and public law, and financial management and scrutiny. For ten years he has provided independent strategic oversight and direction to national public interest organisations, on a non-political basis.
Paul came a strong second in the last PCC elections with over 112,000 votes and serves on Surrey's police and crime panel. He is the best person to represent the people of Surrey and get the best out of Surrey Police.
A Professional Force
Police and Crime Commissioners are supposed to hold police forces to account on behalf of residents, but too often they just engage in “ego politics” - too busy promoting themselves, and campaigning for reelection, to focus on improving performance.
Paul Kennedy disagrees with the idea of police and crime commissioners, but we’re stuck with them while we have a Conservative Government. That’s why Paul is determined to do the job properly.
If elected, he will serve one term only, so he can focus on doing the job. He will be ambitious for Surrey Police, not for himself.
If elected, I will set a clear strategic direction for Surrey Police and its partners, with specific objectives I can monitor and report on. My reports will give a fair and balanced assessment of performance not a long list of my own achievements.
Paul Kennedy
A More Ambitious Police Force
The current Conservative PCC, who was elected in 2021, has increased their own office budget by 70% to nearly £1.7 million a year, with a larger media team, a deputy PCC and a national policy adviser to promote their role with the association of PCCs. They also commissioned a review of whether to take over fire and rescue services as well as policing, which would mean an even bigger budget (and salary) for them.
But none of this empire-building has improved performance. The independent PEEL inspection of Surrey Police for 2023/24 found that 6 out of 7 areas previously assessed in 2021/22 had deteriorated. After nearly 12 years of Conservative and “independent” ex-Conservative PCCs, Surrey residents pay the highest council tax in the country for our police service, and we deserve better.
A Community-Based Police Force
As a hardworking local councillor, Paul Kennedy understands the importance of having confident communities and making Surrey Police more accountable to them.
Paul has seen the harm caused by the withdrawal of community policing - and the loss of half of Surrey’s PCSOs in just three years - under the current PCC. He is determined to reverse that trend. Paul opposes the decision to withdraw Surrey Police support for CCTV monitoring in our streets, and the current PCC’s refusal to take a lead in updating Surrey Police’s CCTV strategy.
If elected, Paul will cut the PCC’s bloated office budget and spend the money on frontline policing instead. He will strengthen links between Surrey Police and local communities, making them more accountable for tackling things like antisocial behaviour, road safety and rural crime.
I am delighted to endorse Paul Kennedy as Surrey's next Liberal Democrat Police & Crime Commissioner. Having worked alongside him for many years I know how much he cares and how hard he works. Paul is the Police and Crime Commissioner that Surrey needs right now.
Zöe Franklin, Prospective MP for Guildford and our villages
Promoted by P Buckley on behalf of P Kennedy (Liberal Democrat) both at Guildford Liberal Democrats, Old Mission Hall, 53a Woking Road, Guildford, GU1 1QD.