This week marks ten years since Police and Crime Commissioners were first elected in England and Wales and began making a difference in the communities they serve.

Marking the anniversary, Dr Alan Billings, who has been South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner since 2014, said: “As PCC for South Yorkshire, it is my responsibility to give the public a voice in policing and criminal justice.

“This involves securing an efficient police force for South Yorkshire, holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of the Force and setting the policing and crime objectives for South Yorkshire in a Police and Crime Plan.

“I am also responsible for appointing the chief constable and I believe the two I have asked to perform this role – Stephen Watson, now chief constable of Greater Manchester and Lauren Poultney – have delivered and maintained a good performing force and one the people of South Yorkshire can have confidence in.

“South Yorkshire should be a place in which it is safe to live, learn, work and travel and I’ve seen great strides made towards this in my time as Police and Crime Commissioner. Most recently, the No More campaign, highlighting violence against women and girls (VAWG), which was funded by my office and developed with input from those who have lived experience of VAWG, or who work in organisations that support women and girls who have experienced this type of violence.”

“There is still a great deal to be done, and I have kept the same three priorities for policing since I was first elected in October 2014; protecting vulnerable people, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and treating people fairly.”

Find out more about the role of the PCC here.