THE Conservative candidate to replace Philip Allott as the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner at a forthcoming by-election has been selected.

She is Harrogate district and county councillor Zoe Metcalfe, who is a project manager for a property asset management company and has set up and run a children’s mental health charity.

Mr Allott resigned as commissioner earlier this month after a unanimous vote of no confidence in him by the area's police and crime panel of councillors.

His resignation followed a storm of protest after he suggested former York woman Sarah Everard should not have "submitted" to being arrested by Wayne Couzens, the Metropolitan police officer who kidnapped and murdered her, and suggested that women needed to be more "streetwise" about police powers of arrest.

Cllr Metcalfe says her campaign will focus on improving safety for women and girls across North Yorkshire, supporting victims of crime and tackling serious and organised crime.

She said she was 'passionate' about making North Yorkshire's communities and societies safe, especially for woman and girls, on the streets and at home, day and night.

“People living and working across North Yorkshire want to feel safe and have full confidence in their police and fire services," she said.

“I can assure people I will stop at nothing to ensure both services are the best they can possibly be for the benefit of everyone across the county.”