We've interviewed all the candidates for this year's elections. See our piece explaining how to vote here.

Tim Starkey is standing for Labour in the election of the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner on May 2, 2024.

The 49-year-old, who was born in Harrow, lives in Chalfont St Giles, having moved to Amersham when he was eight.

READ MORE: Meet the other PCC candidates – Tim Bearder (Lib Dem), Matthew Barber (Conservative), Ben Holden-Crowther (Independent) and Russell Fowler (Independent)

The barrister, who has served in the rape and serious sexual offences team at the Crown Prosecution Service has 20 years’ criminal justice experience under his belt.

He unsuccessfully ran in the first Thames Valley PCC election in 2012, where he was defeated by the first occupant of the role, the Conservatives’ Anthony Stansfeld.

Here we question Mr Starkey further about his suitability for the role:

What experience do you have for the role?

For me it is not just another political job, it is a vocation, having worked in the criminal justice system for 20 years.

Why should people vote for you?

Because of the experience I bring to it and the priority areas I want to focus on.

Which crimes will you prioritise?

Violence against shop workers and tackling shoplifting, violence against women and girls and road safety is hugely important.

How will you prevent more crime?

Neighbourhood policing is important in terms of confidence and making reports to the police. That is hugely important. If you look at something like shoplifting, we want to make more use of orders to ban repeat offenders from crime hotspots.

How will you solve more crime?

One issue is to do with the response of police. In the inspection of Thames Valley Police in December, responding to the public was identified as an area for improvement. There were cases of domestic violence that hadn’t been responded to in a week.

Will officers notice a change?

Neighbourhood policing teams have been decimated. Officers being problem-solvers in their communities is very much the emphasis I want to bring.

Is the position unnecessarily politicised?

What is really important, is the distinction between operational policing and wider questions which are political, such as how much of your council tax goes to the police and what are their priorities. I think there is a need for civilian oversight because I don’t think the police should be trusted to police themselves.

Where would you spend more money?

Neighbourhood policing and supporting victims better.

How would you ensure budget cuts do not lead to crime rising?

Money is going to be tight whoever wins. TVP does not get a good deal from the government. There are considerable savings to be made though through collaboration between forces.

How important is the police’s relationship with the public and how will you develop this?

I think rebuilding confidence in the police is absolutely essential. People don’t ever see the police. They think if they report something, nothing is going to happen. Restoring neighbourhood policing is important.

How will you ensure TVP deals with officers who commit crimes?

The job is to hold the police to account. It is not a cosy relationship. You should champion hardworking officers but where there have been failures, you shouldn’t shy away from criticism either.

How will you make sure everywhere in the large Thames Valley area is represented?

I think it is really important to represent both rural and urban areas. It is important to do events online, go to schools, universities and shopping malls to be scrutinised.

How will we be able to measure your success after your first 100 days?

After 100 days I would like to see that there has been an improvement in those particular things which have been identified that have gone critically wrong.