Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has defended the appointment of a deputy earning £55,000 a year - who was officially unveiled today (Thursday May 9).
Lindsay Whitehouse was unanimously confirmed by the Police and Crime Panel, after being named as a candidate on May 3.
Mr Alston was appointed commissioner in November last year and says he has chosen to appoint a deputy to help him reduce crime effectively .
He said "Over the past few months I have become increasingly sure that I need a Deputy to help me carry out effective scrutiny of Essex Police and to drive community crime reduction work across Essex. Since December, my office has been carrying out a review to scope the role requirement and the work that the Deputy will do.
"In keeping with my desire to be open and transparent and uphold the highest integrity that this office requires, I openly advertised the position and I attached no party political requirements.
"I was very pleased to receive a number of applications and held two rounds of interviews of selected candidates with a panel of assessors.
"The Police and Crime Plan for Essex is built upon a determination to tackle the cycle of re-offending, to steer young offenders away from criminality, to reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and to address the horrors of domestic abuse.
"Lindsay Whitehouse brings a wealth of experience to support the Police and Crime Commissioner, Essex Police, the Community Safety Partnerships and the voluntary sector in these challenging but crucial efforts to help keep Essex safe."
The new deputy commissioner is currently deputy governor of HM Prison Chelmsford, and is chair of the Essex Criminal Justice Board Public Confidence Action Team.
Mr Whitehouse said: "I am pleased and honoured to have been selected by Mr Alston after a rigorous and tough competition for the post. I am encouraged by the potential that this new role has in bringing real scrutiny to the performance and finances of our police service and crime prevention schemes.
"I approach the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner with an aspiration to make Essex safer for us all and uphold the highest levels of integrity that the Commissioner has set.
Mr Alston added: "I am committed to running the Office of the PCC as efficiently and effectively as possible, at a cost around twenty per cent below that of the old Police Authority just three years ago. This includes the salary of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner."
Lindsay Whitehouse was unanimously confirmed by the Police and Crime Panel, after being named as a candidate on May 3.
Mr Alston was appointed commissioner in November last year and says he has chosen to appoint a deputy to help him reduce crime effectively .
He said "Over the past few months I have become increasingly sure that I need a Deputy to help me carry out effective scrutiny of Essex Police and to drive community crime reduction work across Essex. Since December, my office has been carrying out a review to scope the role requirement and the work that the Deputy will do.
"In keeping with my desire to be open and transparent and uphold the highest integrity that this office requires, I openly advertised the position and I attached no party political requirements.
"I was very pleased to receive a number of applications and held two rounds of interviews of selected candidates with a panel of assessors.
"The Police and Crime Plan for Essex is built upon a determination to tackle the cycle of re-offending, to steer young offenders away from criminality, to reduce drug and alcohol abuse, and to address the horrors of domestic abuse.
"Lindsay Whitehouse brings a wealth of experience to support the Police and Crime Commissioner, Essex Police, the Community Safety Partnerships and the voluntary sector in these challenging but crucial efforts to help keep Essex safe."
The new deputy commissioner is currently deputy governor of HM Prison Chelmsford, and is chair of the Essex Criminal Justice Board Public Confidence Action Team.
Mr Whitehouse said: "I am pleased and honoured to have been selected by Mr Alston after a rigorous and tough competition for the post. I am encouraged by the potential that this new role has in bringing real scrutiny to the performance and finances of our police service and crime prevention schemes.
"I approach the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner with an aspiration to make Essex safer for us all and uphold the highest levels of integrity that the Commissioner has set.
Mr Alston added: "I am committed to running the Office of the PCC as efficiently and effectively as possible, at a cost around twenty per cent below that of the old Police Authority just three years ago. This includes the salary of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner."
