Mark Shelford
Mark Shelford | |
---|---|
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner | |
In office 13 May 2021 – 8 May 2024 | |
Preceded by | Sue Mountstevens |
Succeeded by | Clare Moody |
Personal details | |
Born | November 1961 (age 62) |
Political party | Conservative |
Website | www |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1981–2013[1] |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Unit | 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards[2] |
Battles/wars | Gulf War Northern Ireland Afghanistan |
Mark Grosvenor McNeill Shelford (born November 1961[3]) is a British Conservative politician and former lieutenant colonel in the British Army, who served as the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 until 2024.
Biography
Shelford served in the British Army between 1981 and 2013, eventually retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel.[1] This included service in the Gulf War as the aide-de-camp to Brigadier Patrick Cordingley.[2]
Shelford was elected to Bath and North East Somerset Council for the Lyncombe ward in the 2015 election.[4] He held this position until 2019, where he was defeated by the Liberal Democrat candidate.[5] He is also a member of the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel, and the Avon Fire Authority.[1]
Police and Crime Commissioner
Shelford was elected on the second round of voting in the 2021 PCC election.[6]
In 2022, along with other South West PCCs, Shelford announced that police on the region would crack down on dealers and users of recreational drugs.[7] Some experts criticised the PCC's calls to reclassify cannabis from Class B to Class A.[8]
In 2023, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, claimed that the force had institutional racism. Shelford endorsed her claims and said he supported her leadership.[9]
Shelford supported the chief constable in enabling the Channel 4 series To Catch a Copper to have behind-the-scenes access at the police Counter-Corruption Unit.[10][11] Some members of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation said they felt "utterly betrayed" and "unsupported" by this decision and the resultant program.[12]
Shelford supported the re-establishment of local police stations in the area, which had been cut during budget cuts in the 2010s,[13] such as in Bath.[14][15]
Shelford stood in the 2024 PCC election, but was defeated for re-election by the Labour party.[16]
References
- ^ a b c "Mark Shelford selected as Conservative PCC candidate". The Midsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Desert Storm Part 12". 4 December 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Mark Grosvenor Mcnei". Companies House. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Lyncombe". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- ^ Sumner, Stephen (3 May 2019). "Lib Dems seize control from Tories in bath and North East Somerset". BristolLive. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Elections 2021: Mark Shelford elected as Avon and Somerset's PCC". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "South West police crackdown on drug use in night-time economy". BBC News. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Experts criticise PCCs' call to re-classify cannabis". BBC News. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "PCC Mark Shelford has endorsed the claim that Avon and Somerset Police is racist". West Somerset Free Press. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Yhnell, Rhiannon; Ellis, Scott (27 January 2024). "Avon and Somerset PCC: 'It's not possible' to stop gross misconduct". BBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Seale, Jack (29 January 2024). "To Catch a Copper review – a shocking, disgusting real-life Line of Duty". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Harcombe, Chloe (7 February 2024). "Avon and Somerset Police staff 'betrayed' by Channel 4 documentary". BBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Avon and Somerset Police to close 12 police stations". BBC News. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Harcombe, Chloe (4 January 2024). "Avon and Somerset Police announce new station in Bath". BBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Bath's new Police HQ". Bath Newseum. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Conservatives lose Avon and Somerset PCC to Labour". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
External links
- Mark Shelford Avon and Somerset PCC on X