Bob Spencer, who served in Merseyside and Devon and Cornwall police forces for over 30 years, retired in 2009 as Acting Assistant Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall.
Bob’s campaign for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner is motivated by his deep concern over massive government cuts to both policing and adult social care budgets.
The announcement comes as he resigns from his positions as Independent Chair of Devon County Council and Torbay Council’s Adult Safeguarding Boards.
Bob said: ’We will, I fear, be facing a situation when services are reduced so significantly those most vulnerable are at risk of abuse on many levels.
’I will run as an Independent candidate because I firmly believe that only an independent commissioner can provide the necessary healthy rigour and challenge to both the local police force - and the government.’
Bob, who would also like to see the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s costs reduce, added: ’In five years the force lost £51 million from budgets, around 500 officers and 500 support staff, putting huge pressure on remaining officers and policing priorities.’