Youngest ever candidate standing to be Warwickshire's Police and Crime Commissioner

Ben Twomey, 22, who grew up in Rugby, is hoping to engage young people and focus on crime prevention if he is successful as an independent candidate in the polls on May 5.

Ben worked for the county’s current PCC Ron Ball as a support officer for more than a year and resigned from the role at Christmas in order to pursue the PCC position.

The University of York graduate also worked with Durham’s PCC for four months. He was the lead for drug and alcohol policy, organised crime, youth engagement, ICT and emergency services collaboration.

Ben, who is now living in Warwick, said: “Democracy can only work when the people are given a real choice between candidates. I intend to bring a new perspective to the debate on crime, and as an independent candidate can make a clear promise that I will do all in my power to keep party-politics out of policing.

“For too long politicians have been hung up on the need for more police officers. What we really need is fewer criminals. Prevention of crime will be my top priority – if we can break the cycle of reoffending and stop young people from going down the wrong path, we will secure our safety well into the future.

“We need to be forward-thinking and tackle crime at its source. This is the only way to effectively reduce the number of victims in Warwickshire, and yet it is routinely ignored by those in power.”

Ben is eager to increase the number of people voting from just 15 per cent in 2012 - the lowest election turnout in British peacetime history.

He said: “It is time for a fresh approach. We must reclaim our right to a say in the policing of our county. There are policy areas that need refocusing, like drugs and alcohol, and those that need prioritising, like cyber-crime and domestic abuse. You can find out more about my promises at www.ben-twomey.co.uk“Having worked for two Police and Crime Commissioners I understand the opportunities and limitations of the role more than most. If I get elected in May, I will hit the ground running, and get straight to work on making our county a safer place.”