North Yorkshire candidate backs Boris Johnson's pledge to increase police numbers

Philip Allott, the Conservative Candidate for May 2021’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections, met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson following the latter’s visits to North Yorkshire’s police HQ in Northallerton and Masons Yorkshire Gin’s premises at Leeming Bar at the end of last month.

The PM reiterated the Conservative Party’s commitment to increasing the size of North Yorkshire’s police force after its pledge to recruit 200 more police officers in the region.

As part of a national three-year drive to get 20,000 extra officers on the streets, by April 2021 North Yorkshire should have a total of 1,508 officers along with a further 28 PCSOs.

In addition, Home Secretary Priti Patel is establishing a £20 million fund to clamp down on “county lines” drug operations, a proportion of which will be allocated to North Yorkshire.

Philip Allott said “If elected in May 2021 I will push for these additional officers to boost the visibility of policing in different communities – and also use them to arrest drug dealers and clamp down on the perpetrators of petty crimes in the urban and rural parts of North Yorkshire, so we can improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Mr Allott said he was campaigning for total police transparency and believes that the role of the new PFCC must be totally independent from the police and, therefore. should not be held by any former serving officer.

Born and bred in Yorkshire, Mr Allott was educated at King James’ School Knaresborough, and later studied law in Leeds, graduating as an LLB. Hons.

He is the managing director of Allott and Associates Ltd, a specialist PR and B2B marketing agency, which he founded in 1993 and which now operates internationall

Mr Allott said he intended to be particularly tough on drug dealers and dedicated to providing increased support for their victims, working with other police forces as required.

He said: “The aim is for the extra funding for drug operations to roll up the county lines gangs and stop them exploiting children in North Yorkshire. Dealing with drug gangs is a big priority and top of my agenda – these perpetrators must be arrested and taken off the streets for a very long time.”

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) election will take place in North Yorkshire on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

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