Police Commissioner proposes to appoint Deputy Commissioner

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite, has announced his intention to propose Councillor Ray Bisby as his Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Councillor Bisby started his career in the military before joining the Royal Ulster Constabulary, serving 19 years in Northern Ireland.  He moved to Peterborough in 2007 and became actively involved in voluntary work in the community including becoming Chair of the local Policing Board. He was elected a Councillor for Stanground South ward in Peterborough in 2015 and is also Chair of Peterborough City Council’s Corporate Parenting. Ray is also a member of the Police and Crime Panel, becoming Vice Chair in 2017. 

The Deputy Commissioner’s role will be to support the Commissioner in his role to hold Cambridgeshire Constabulary to account, drive forward the community safety agenda in the county, bring agencies together and listen to the public and local communities.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite, said, “I have taken some time in deciding who to offer this important position to and Ray stood out as having the right experience and personal qualities.  I look forward to Ray joining me at a time of significant change within the police and across public services as a whole.”    

Commenting on the appointment, Ray said, “I am delighted to be selected as Jason’s preferred candidate to become his Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and look forward to working with him as part of his team.  I am keen to help Jason in the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan and ensure that the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have a police service they value and have confidence in.”

In line with statutory procedures, the Police and Crime Commissioner is required to formally notify the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel of the proposed appointment and they will then be required to arrange a public Confirmation Hearing.  Once the Panel has considered the appointment, the Commissioner can then make his formal decision to appoint the Deputy Commissioner.   It is hoped that the formal decision can be made before the end of December 2017.