Dr Paul Williams has been selected as Labour’s candidate to stand for Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland.

Dr Williams is a family doctor who has worked in every part of the Cleveland area during a 24-year career. He has also been an NHS Commissioner, setting the local NHS strategy and chairing the quality, performance and finance committee of Hartlepool & Stockton Clinical Commissioning Group – the NHS equivalent of being a Police and Crime Commissioner.

He was MP for Stockton South from 2017 to 2019 and focussed heavily on policing and anti-social behaviour.

Dr Williams said: “We need a fresh start for Cleveland Police. For far too long local people haven’t been getting the service they deserve.

“I want a police force that everyone in Cleveland can feel proud of.

“I will do whatever it takes to make us feel safe. That means intelligent prevention, more responsive policing, and always putting victims first.

“People want to see police in their neighbourhood so it’s the criminals who feel afraid not ordinary decent people. I’ll make that happen.”

In a joint statement, Labour’s 2019 candidates in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar Anna Turley, Mike Hill, Lauren Dinsdale, Andy McDonald and Alex Cunningham all said: “Paul is the best person for the job. We’re proud to support and campaign for him to be our PCC.”

The election, to replace Barry Coppinger who is standing down, takes place on May 7.