Halfway through the term: meaningful progress, clear direction

Reaching the two‑year mark in any public leadership role is a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. It’s a point where early promises meet the reality of delivery and where learning starts to shape long‑term ambition.

The last two years have been about action, listening, and responsibility. From day one, the priority has been clear: making communities safer, stronger and better supported. That has meant backing prevention initiatives, demanding high standards from the Constabulary and our partners in health, education and the criminal justice system.

There have been real successes. Strong partnerships have been built, new approaches tested, and improvements made that may not always grab headlines but make a genuine difference to people’s daily lives. A great example is our Fresh Start programme, which  helps people on probation finding meaningful long-term careers with employers across the county. By providing the stability of a regular income, people can continue to change their lives for the better. It’s also shown to reduce re-offending which helps communities to feel safer.

Progress doesn’t come from grand gestures alone. It comes from consistency, accountability, and a willingness to tackle difficult issues head‑on. This has been demonstrated in my partnership with Esther Ghey to ensure that Cheshire becomes the first county to embrace a phone-free education.  Momentum is building, with 53 of the 71 high schools across the county already onboard for next term, and a national tendering process about to go live .

With my engineering background, I’m a keen advocate of piloting initiatives to test proof of concept. In Runcorn and Widnes, we know  the level of domestic abuse incidents is exceptionally high. I’ve been working with specialist providers to engage with those who find themselves in custody as a result of domestic abuse. The arrested person is given behavioural change support to recognise their negative behaviours and ways to change them. Support is also given to the wider family unit – partner and children – to help break the cycle of domestic abuse. My aim is to roll this pilot out across the county, so those who are affected by domestic abuse aren’t subject to a postcode lottery and can all gain the same level of support.

I’m proud of the progress so far but getting this far hasn’t been without challenge. Rising demand, limited resources, budgetary pressures and growing complexity have made some decisions hard. Public service rarely offers simple answers. Part of the job is being honest about that. Facing problems directly rather than avoiding them. I hope I continue to demonstrate the importance of openness and transparency, just as I did when  I was seeking feedback on the policing precept part of the council tax, in which I was open about my proposal with regards to the situation around Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).The Cheshire public were clear, that they were willing to pay extra to keep PCSOs.

Keeping the conversation with our communities alive a vital part of listening to the public. I’ve completed five of my nine citizens’ assemblies across the county, empowering local people to speak up, and understand more about how policing works in their area. . 191 residents have taken part so far . People from a range of ages, different backgrounds, different outlooks, all with their own perceptions and feelings has made for interesting discussions in each of the areas. Each assembly has highlighted that although areas may have similarities, they also have their own unique issues they want the police to focus on.

When I think about the last two years, the thing I’m always impressed by is the commitment of the people involved in the initiatives we drive forward, not least my own team in the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner. It’s been a privilege to work with dedicated professionals, partners and local communities have shown resilience, determination and care. Even under pressure. Their work and support are the foundation of everything that has been achieved so far here in Cheshire.

Looking ahead, the focus is firmly on strengthening what works, learning from what doesn’t, and staying bold in the pursuit of improvement. It also means continuing to listen because the best ideas and the strongest accountability come from the public themselves. As your voice into policing, I want to make sure what I deliver is what you need.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to engage, challenge and contribute over the past two years. There is more to do and my commitment to delivering positive change is as strong as ever.