A RETIRED deputy chief constable has become one of the first people in the region to put themselves forward as a potential police commissioner.

Peter Walker is bidding to hold the post in North Yorkshire and has announced he is seeking to be the Conservative candidate in elections for the job.

Local branches of the party are now to consider who they want as their candidate.

Police commissioners will replace the current police authorities.

The role will range from appointing the chief constable and setting operational priorities to setting the budget and precept for services.

It will also entail holding the chief constable to account.

Mr Walker – the chairman of Thirsk Regeneration Initiative – said he had been approached just after the general election to consider running.

“I had a really long think about whether or not to do so,” he added.

“I wanted to consider what the role was, whether people who know me thought I had the right skills, and how I would improve policing in the city of York and county of North Yorkshire.”