Cornwall goes to the polls to choose its next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on May 5, with six candidates vying to oversee Devon and Cornwall Police for the next four years.

The three main political parties plus UKIP all have a contender for the role, with two independent candidates also aiming for the post.

With the winner being responsible for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the force, overseeing police finances, and the hiring and firing of the chief constable, the Packet has provided a guide to those in the running.

Labour Party candidate Commodore Gareth Derrick is a former naval officer living in Plymouth, commander of the Royal Naval and Royal Marines Reserves until 2013, who served on land and in submarines during the two Iraq wars, who served as a diplomat in the British Embassy in Tokyo from 2007 – 2010.

Commodore Derrick has said he will bring Labour values of fairness, honesty and teamwork to the role, and listed his priorities as continuing the fight for proper funding, restoring effective local policing, and ensuring that the police and his own staff are truly engaged with the people in his force area.

He said: “There is a clear need to restore effective local-based policing, focused on crime risks that are changing rapidly and that vary from place to place. I am determined to modernise the police workforce and introduce new technology to ensure an ongoing visible presence, and provide the skills to address the complex challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s crime. Domestic abuse, sexual and other violent crimes, child sexual exploitation and rapidly increasing and worrying internet based crime are doing so much harm to our society. The most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society must get their fair share of policing.”

Conservative candidate Alison Hernandez is a former businesswoman and former Torbay councillor and community campaigner, who co-founded the Torbay Social Media Café.

Ms Hernandez has said she will get the best funding deal for the area, while putting policing at the heart of communities both on the streets and online, working with the other emergency services to greater effect, supporting those affected by crime, improving crime reporting, and reviewing police station closures, as well as setting up "cyber crime cafes."

She said: "Everyone I speak to on the doorstep knows this role is inherently political - we are elected by the people to make sure hard-earned taxpayers' money is used to deliver safer streets and lower crime."

She added: "We're doing a good job so far - Devon and Cornwall Police record the highest public confidence in the country and the third lowest crime area in England and Wales - but we can't sit back.

"We must continue to make sure our officers have the resources they need to tackle changing crime threats head on."

William Morris, a Cornwall born independent candidate from Penzance, has worked as a a farmer, miner and publisher, and spent time as a volunteer prison visitor at Swansea Prison before becoming the secretary of the local branch of the National Association of Official Prison Visitors, and serving as a county councillor for West Glamorgan. he has also served on the West Cornwall Marine Council, as well as working for peace in various roles in the Middle East.

Mr Morris has said he will target zero tolerance in areas with increasing levels of violence, introduce community payback to reduce pressure on the criminal justice system, put greater priority on wildlife and farm crime, and introduce drunk tanks, youth detox, and more random vehicle spot checks.

He said: "We have a precious safe haven in Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. However, levels of violent crime resulting in injury buck the trend and are increasing, as do levels of rape and family abuse, often alcohol related. On my watch, these levels will be reversed.

"We will deliver the best for the South West. There will be no further police station closures and counter services will be restored by training more special constables.

"Can this level of policing be sustained in an era of wanton cuts? Yes it can with sufficient vision, energy and vigilance."

UKIP candidate Jonathan Leslie Smith retired from the police in 2015 after 30 years service as a police constable in the south west, having been commended for outstanding police service, and has said he will lobby for the dissolution of the PCC role.

Mr Smith has said he will reverse the policy of withdrawing police visibility from the community, review station closures and overhaul the 101 telephone system, and added that he wants to listen to voters' opinions, ensure all crimes are recorded and prioritise local issues instead of Government performance targets.

He said: "As the Police and Crime Commissioner I would work with the police force to return the balance of power to them in relation to operational matters. They are the experts in that field, not the politicians. I want the police to excel in the strength of their proper role, as the custodians of the law.

"As the Police and Crime Commissioner I would not promulgate political spin, I would not be a bridge to facilitate the one way imposition of a politician's whim. I would support the Devon and Cornwall Police and provide encouragement to ensure that they aim to become one of the best operational police forces, as they once were."

Independent candidate Bob Spencer finished a 30-year police career as Acting Assistant Chief Constable, having served in both urban and rural communities, covering events such as the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Devon and the aftermath of several terrorist activities with implications across Devon and Cornwall. He was the officer in overall command of The Giraffe Restaurant terrorist bombing incident in Exeter, and was brought in to the recovery from the MSC Napoli incident, who has since spent seven years working as an advisor on anti-terrorism situations and been a magistrate in Devon for five years.

Mr Spencer has said he will put more police on the streets and support them to do their jobs, put victims at the heart of the justice system, work with our partners to protect vulnerable people, reduce crime in our communities, and challenge government cuts to police funding.

He said: "A strong leader who will not shy from unpopular decisions, I will advocate vociferously for the community to have the policing they want and need. Critically I have the skills and experience needed to challenge the police to ensure they deliver for the communities of Devon, Cornwall, Torbay and Isles of Scilly. As an independent I am free to act and free to speak on your behalf without political pressures."

Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Younger-Ross is the former MP for Teignbridge, who sat on the Defence Select Committee and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who is also a member of the Howard LEague for Penal Reform.

He has said that his three main priorities are to secure a fair funding deal for the Devon and Cornwall Police Force, to maintain and improve the visibility of the police force and improve the 101 service, and to protect the force from a forced merger with Somerset and Avon which would make decision making more remote.

He has also said that he will press the Government to abolish the post of Police and Crime Commissioner.

A spokesperson on behalf of Mr Younger-Ross said: "Richard believes that we need a strong democratic oversight of the police, that listens to communities and gives them a greater say in how our streets are policed. We do not need that power given to a single person nor can we have the police policing themselves. We need a strong body that can call on expert advice but is part of the community. This would be better done by something like the old Police Authority but with the same powers as have been given to the Police and Crime Commissioner."