FIVE candidates for Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner elections have been officially announced.

Richard Rhodes, the current PCC, will relinquish his post after three-and-a-half years in charge of the county's police force following a public vote on Thursday, May 5.

The electorate will have the chance to choose between a Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, UKIP and an Independent candidate - a biography of each candidate is shown below.

PCCs are elected representatives who oversee how crime is tackled their region.

Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure the police force is effective by working with the police and other partners to cut crime, give the public a voice, hold forces to account and help restore trust.

The PCC is directly accountable to the scrutiny of the public, will respond to local people's concerns, set the force's priorities and budget and hold the Chief Constable to account by having the power to dismiss them.

Turnout at the first ever PCC elections held in November 2012 was just 15.6 per cent and this year's candidates will be hoping they can muster a stronger reaction from the public this time around.

For more information on how to vote, visit www.southlakeland.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/elections/elections-2016/

LABOUR:

Reg Watson OBE.

Mr Watson was announced as the Labour Party candidate in February.

He is a Labour councillor on Carlisle City Council, a former mechanical engineer and former chairman of the Cumbria Police Authority.

"I am honoured to be Labour's candidate for the area I live in," said Mr Watson. "Tory cuts to our police are putting the safety of our local communities at risk.

"Labour will be campaigning here in Cumbria to protect neighbourhood policing, maintain frontline police officers and ensure our communities are kept safe despite the huge cuts to police budgets inflicted by this Tory Government."

CONSERVATIVE:

Peter McCall.

A former colonel who served in the armed forces for 34 years, his priorities include tackling anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse and rural crime.

He also has plans to work with young people in the region to ensure they do not fall into crime.

"I have a track record of real leadership," he said. "I am not a 'committee warrior' but believe in action not talk, getting on with the job, not whinging or blaming others.

"I will listen and remember that as PCC my role is to support and protect you, your families and businesses from crime, together we will keep Cumbria safe."

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT:

Loraine Birchall

Ms Birchall is a member of Barrow and Furness Liberal Democrats, campaigning for improved services and infrastructure.

Five years in the defence industry gave her an insight into the culture of large business and she was also a Union rep for Amicus, fighting for employment rights.

She provided consultancy to Business Link, West Cumbria Development Agency, the Manufacturing Institute and helped run the EU FeedIT programme.

Ms Birchall campaigns for women in business, accessibility and the availability of broadband/technology to assist those suffering economic/social exclusion. She is a board member of South Lakes Housing and serves on the Development and Finance Committees.

UKIP:

Michael Pye

Mr Pye has had very strong links with Cumbria for more than 50 years.

He was educated at Cockermouth Grammar School, studied chemical engineering at Birmingham University, then spent his career in the oil industry.

"UKIP is a strong believer in law and order and that the police have a very important role to protect ordinary people from crime," he said. "The police also need accountability and transparency to ensure they are working in our overall best interests.

"The very large shape of Cumbria's police area and the locations of police and crime related bodies, brings many challenges."

Mr Pye said that his home in Cockermouth fits in well with the road system giving convenient access across the whole region.

INDEPENDENT:

Mary Robinson

A Cumbrian farmer’s daughter, born in Kendal, Ms Robinson has lived in the Eden Valley for 40 years.

She held roles as a member of EU Committee of Regions, senior Eden District councillor, Cumbria County Councillor, Carlisle and Eden Community Safety Partnership (chairman), Collision Reduction and Safer Highways Group, Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee, Eden District Council Scrutiny Monitoring Board (deputy chairman), Eden District Council Accounts and Governance Panel (budgets).

She worked for 10 years with Cumbria police and agencies to further community safety and cut crime.

Ms Robinson is briefed by government advisors on national, local security and terrorism.

She says that she wants to address hate crimes, domestic abuse, stop psycho-active substances being sold in schools and organised gangs targeting Cumbria.