Crawley needs more police – that’s the message from Paul Richards, the Labour & Co-operative candidate for Sussex police and crime commissioner (PCC).

Voters across Sussex, including here in Crawley, will get the chance to vote for their choice of police and crime commissioner on 6 May, or even earlier with a postal vote.

Labour’s Paul Richards has a plan to put more police on Sussex streets, estates, towns and villages, including more neighbourhood teams in Ifield and also in Gossops Green. Mr Richards believes that a visible police presence in these neighbourhoods not only means fewer serious crimes, it will also tackle antisocial behaviour like noise, vandalism, graffiti and litter.

Mr Richards supports a new victims’ law to give victims and witnesses new rights and encourage more people to bring criminals to justice. Prevention of crime is also important – investing in more youth clubs, Sure Starts and other facilities for local people.

Paul Richards says: ‘My Conservative opponent has been in office for ten years. Yet crime is up, and police numbers are down. Crawley neighbourhoods need more police – on the streets not behind desks. As your police and crime commissioner, I will put neighbourhood policing and support for victims at the heart of my local police plan.’

The election for Sussex police and crime commissioner is a two-horse race between Labour and Conservative. Last time, the Lib Dems came a distant fourth. Only Labour’s Paul Richards can beat the Conservatives, put more police in our neighbourhoods, and tackle the rising tide of crime.