FORMER aid worker Dr Brian Mathew is standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Wiltshire’s Police and Crime and Commissioner elections on May 5.

Dr Mathew’s plans for a safer Wiltshire include rejuvenated Neighbourhood and Farm Watch schemes, communities that look out for each other, prioritising cybercrime, cutting management and creating more coppers who are free to do their work in the best way they can – out on the street.

He also believes in reforming drug laws based on science, fact and not political prejudice and criminals confronting the impact of their crimes through restorative justice, with proceeds from their crimes going to their victims.

For much of the last 25 years, Dr Mathew, 55, has been an aid worker across some of the poorest places on the planet, working for Water Aid, CARE, World Vision and British Aid programmes in Southern Africa. He has lived in Yatton Keynell since 2006.

“My aid work was all about building communities, resilience, empowerment and solidarity. This policing job is about community and providing a public service. I am drawn to public service, be it overseas or here at home. I love my country and I want to do the best I can for it,” he said, as he tries to unseat current PCC Angus Macpherson.

“I conducted a survey and most people do not know if Neighbourhood Watch is working anymore.

“I want to make Neighbourhood and Farm Watch a central part of happy and healthy communities so people look out for each other, and 75 per cent of respondents said they would get involved.”

Dr Mathew cited a recent Churchill article, using Home Office statistics, which stated that Wiltshire has the worst rate of solving burglary and robbery in England and Wales.

“If you have the lowest crime solving rates in the country then there is obviously something wrong. 8.3 per cent is dreadful but for a turnaround to happen, change needs to happen,” he said.

“I think the problem with the PCC role is a lack of visibility. It is not very clear what he has been doing."

Mr Mathew, who came second behind MP James Gray in the North Wiltshire constituency in the general election, criticised the lack of exposure and transparency of the PCC election process and said it was repeating the mistakes of 2012.

“A turnout of under 16 per cent in 2012 is ridiculous and embarrassingly low. I have written to the electoral commission to complain and the cabinet office too,” he said.

“The information needs to put be out there and it is not. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over again and expect different outcomes. That is what they did last time with the PCC and that is what they are going to do this time.

“I absolutely love campaigning for this, it is hugely exciting and I believe I can make a difference.”

For more information about his campaign visit http://brianmathew.focusteam.org.uk/