A FORMER MP, a long-serving councillor and a retired police chief have been unveiled as Labour’s choices to be the North-East’s first elected crime commissioners.

Voters nationwide will choose the first Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on Thursday, November 15.

The winners will succeed the existing police authorities, have powers to appoint and dismiss chief constables and set the precept and be paid up to £80,000 a year.

Today, Labour announced its candidates would be: former Redcar MP and solicitor general Vera Baird for Northumbria, former Cleveland deputy chief constable Ron Hogg for Durham including Darlington and Middlesbrough councillor Barry Coppinger for Cleveland.

That meant disappointment for, among others, Darlington council leader Bill Dixon and Durham Police Authority chairman Peter Thompson, who were defeated candidates.

York councillor Ruth Potter had already been chosen to contest North Yorkshire.

At the announcement, in Newcastle, Chris Bryant, Labour’s Shadow Home Affairs Minister, said: "We didn’t support the introduction of commissioners, but at a time when 1,000 local officers are being cut, Labour couldn’t stand by and let Tories or Lib Dems get in.

"The commissioners will be dealing with some of the most important issues facing people today. We’ve got some good candidates here."

James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, said the campaign must not become a tool for running down the police, as they needed ‘our support rather than cheap political attacks’.

The Tories have named former detective inspector Phil Butler as their candidate in Northumbria. Candidates for Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire will be named shortly. Teesdale councillor Richard Bell has decided not to seek the Durham nomination.

Although national Liberal Democrat chiefs have ruled out funding campaigns, saying policing should not be politicised, local branches are free to field candidates. None have yet been announced but a candidate is expected for Northumbria and possibly elsewhere.

Nationally, former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott will be Labour’s PCC candidate in Humberside, former minister James Plaskitt will contest Warwickshire and former Welsh First Minister Alun Michael will run in South Wales, while his son, Tal Michael, contests in North Wales.