THE names of the five candidates standing for the role of Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner have been officially announced.

The list of candidates is as follows:

  • Birchall, Loraine (Liberal Democrats)
  • McCall, Peter Joseph (Conservative Party)
  • Pye, Michael (UKIP)
  • Robinson, Mary (Independent)
  • Watson, Reg (Labour Party)

The election will be held on Thursday, May 5.

This is the second time PCC elections have been held, with Richard Rhodes (Conservative) claiming victory in the first ever ballot in November 2012.

The PCC’s role is to act as the public’s voice on how policing is carried out in Cumbria, to set the force's budget and to decide what the police's strategy and priorities should be.

Residents should ensure they are on the Register of Electors so they can have their say in the PCC election and in the local elections that are also taking place on May 5.

The deadline to register is Monday, April 18 - visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote for more information.

If anyone would like a postal vote, or wishes to change an existing postal or proxy vote, they must apply to their Electoral Registration Officer in their local authority area by 5pm on Tuesday, April 19.

Applications for new proxy votes must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, April 26.

Any applications for proxy votes because of a medical emergency or for work/service reasons, which have occurred after 5pm on April 26, can be accepted until 5pm on polling day.

All application forms can be obtained from the Electoral Registration Officer at the local authority where you are registered to vote. 

Completed forms must be submitted to the same Electoral Registration Officer by the relevant date.

The contact details of councils within the Cumbria Police Area are below:

  • Allerdale Borough Council - Electoral Registration Officer, Allerdale House, Workington CA14 3YJ
  • Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council - Electoral Registration Officer, Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2LD
  • Carlisle City Council - Electoral Registration Officer, Civic Centre, Carlisle CA3 8QG
  • Copeland Borough Council - Electoral Registration Officer, The Copeland Centre, Catherine Street, Whitehaven CA28 7SJ
  • Eden District Council – Electoral Registration Officer, Town Hall, Penrith CA11 7QF
  • South Lakeland District Council – Electoral Registration Officer, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal LA9 4UQ