Snettisham man Lorne Green will stand in Police and Crime Commissioner elections

A Snettisham man has already started campaigning after being chosen to represent the Conservatives in next year’s Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Former Canadian diplomat Lorne Green, 69, was announced as the candidate during a meeting on Saturday ahead of Norfolk County councillor Alison Thomas and James Athill.

Mr Green, who has lived in Snettisham with wife Valerie for more than 30 years, is hoping to tailor his campaign for each district in Norfolk ahead of next May’s elections.

He said: “I think it is one of the highest callings to be a servant to the public and this gives me an opportunity to run a positive and inclusive campaign.

“I want to reach out and embrace the voter groups. I’m running as a Conservative but the issue of policing and criminal justice in the county are not political in a partisan sense.

“I am inviting all voters in Norfolk to join me in influencing police priorities and allow them to appreciate fully that the police are on their side.”

Mr Green says he is braced for talks with the Government over funding and will be aiming to look at savings.

He said: “It should not be an easy decision to increase the tax burden on the people of Norfolk.”

Mr Green had been in charge of the Canadian embassy in Belgrade during the bloody civil war which raged through the former Yugoslavia.