‘Time for change’ - Adrian Waite selected as Lib Dem candidate to be Cumbria’s next Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

The Liberal Democrats have selected Adrian Waite to be the party’s candidate for Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) at the elections on Thursday 2nd May.

Adrian serves his community as a local town councillor in Kirkby Stephen where he lives. He is an accountant who runs a management consultancy business that supports public services and is a former Chair of Workington-based Impact Housing Association that provided affordable homes across Cumbria.

His main priorities are:

•         A return to community policing after years of Conservative cuts.

•         A focus on tackling rural crime.

•         Working with local communities to reduce anti-social behaviour.

•         Preventing crime from occurring in the first place.

•         Improving co-ordination between police, fire and other public services.

One of the most important roles of the PFCC is to manage the budgets for the police and fire & rescue services and manage budgets. A former finance director and strategic director at Copeland Borough Council, Adrian is well placed to make sure that our police and fire & rescue services provide best value for money.

Speaking at a meeting of Liberal Democrats in Appleby on last week, Adrian said: “I’m delighted to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate to be our county’s next Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

“The men and women who serve in our police and fire & emergency services do an incredible job working to keep us safe. But they, and the public they serve, are being let down by the Conservatives.

“The Conservatives have taken people in our county for granted for far too long, especially people living in rural areas who rarely see a police officer anymore.

“The Liberal Democrats are winning in Cumbria, from Corby to Coniston, and from Greystoke to Grange-over-Sands, and I’m keen to build on the party’s growing success.”

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale added: “Adrian would be an absolutely fantastic Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

“His financial background means that residents would get good value for money for the service they receive.

“Adrian is someone who puts others first and is more concerned with listening to people and rolling up his sleeves to get things done for them – rather than chasing headlines.

“Every vote for Adrian helps us send a strong message to the Conservatives that we want change.”