Mark Shelford
{{Short description|British Conservative politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Mark Shelford
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
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|smallimage =
|caption =
|order =
|office = Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
|term_start = 13 May 2021
|term_end = 8 May 2024
|predecessor = Sue Mountstevens
|successor = Clare Moody
|office2 =
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|term_end2 =
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|birthname =
|birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1961|11}}
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|party = Conservative
|spouse =
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|website = {{URL|https://www.markshelford.org.uk}}
|profession =
|allegiance = {{flagu|United Kingdom}}
|branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}
|rank = Lieutenant Colonel
|unit = 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards{{cite web|url=https://britisharmy.wordpress.com/2015/12/04/desert-storm-part-12/|title=Desert Storm Part 12|date=4 December 2015|accessdate=10 May 2021}}
|commands =
|battles = Gulf War
Northern Ireland
Afghanistan
|mawards =
}}
Mark Grosvenor McNeill Shelford (born November 1961{{Cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/tzS-atbCEfD4sKCkMuGDuoKNiUM/appointments |publisher=Companies House |title=Mark Grosvenor Mcnei |access-date=2024-05-03}}) is a British Conservative politician and former lieutenant colonel in the British Army, who served as the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 until 2024.
Biography
Shelford served in the British Army between 1981 and 2013, eventually retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. This included service in the Gulf War as the aide-de-camp to Brigadier Patrick Cordingley.
Shelford was elected to Bath and North East Somerset Council for the Lyncombe ward in the 2015 election.{{cite web|title=Lyncombe|url=http://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=312&RPID=9636384|publisher=Bath and North East Somerset Council|access-date=10 May 2015}} He held this position until 2019, where he was defeated by the Liberal Democrat candidate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/local-election-results-bath-north-2829852|title=Lib Dems seize control from Tories in bath and North East Somerset|first=Stephen|last=Sumner|date=3 May 2019|website=BristolLive | access-date = 8 May 2021}} He is also a member of the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Panel, and the Avon Fire Authority.
Police and Crime Commissioner
Shelford was elected on the second round of voting in the 2021 PCC election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-57027403|title=Elections 2021: Mark Shelford elected as Avon and Somerset's PCC|work=BBC News |date=7 May 2021| access-date = 8 May 2021}}
In 2022, along with other South West PCCs, Shelford announced that police on the region would crack down on dealers and users of recreational drugs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-63404088|title=South West police crackdown on drug use in night-time economy|work=BBC News |date=26 October 2022| access-date = 24 September 2023}} Some experts criticised the PCC's calls to reclassify cannabis from Class B to Class A.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-64348281|title=Experts criticise PCCs' call to re-classify cannabis|work=BBC News |date=23 January 2023| access-date = 24 September 2023}}
In 2023, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, claimed that the force had institutional racism. Shelford endorsed her claims and said he supported her leadership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/pcc-mark-shelford-has-endorsed-the-claim-that-avon-and-somerset-police-is-racist-624789|title= PCC Mark Shelford has endorsed the claim that Avon and Somerset Police is racist|work=West Somerset Free Press |date=5 July 2023| access-date = 24 September 2023}}
Shelford supported the chief constable in enabling the Channel 4 series To Catch a Copper to have behind-the-scenes access at the police Counter-Corruption Unit.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68107736 |title=Avon and Somerset PCC: 'It's not possible' to stop gross misconduct |last1=Yhnell |first1=Rhiannon |last2=Ellis |first2=Scott |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/29/to-catch-a-copper-review-a-shocking-disgusting-real-life-line-of-duty |title=To Catch a Copper review – a shocking, disgusting real-life Line of Duty |last=Seale |first=Jack |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}} Some members of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation said they felt "utterly betrayed" and "unsupported" by this decision and the resultant program.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-68222798 |title=Avon and Somerset Police staff 'betrayed' by Channel 4 documentary |last=Harcombe |first=Chloe |work=BBC News |date=7 February 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}
Shelford supported the re-establishment of local police stations in the area, which had been cut during budget cuts in the 2010s,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-27194465 |title=Avon and Somerset Police to close 12 police stations |work=BBC News |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=6 April 2024}} such as in Bath.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-67864121 |title=Avon and Somerset Police announce new station in Bath |last=Harcombe |first=Chloe |work=BBC News |date=4 January 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://bathnewseum.com/2024/02/16/baths-new-police-hq/ |title=Bath's new Police HQ |website=Bath Newseum |date=16 February 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}
Shelford stood in the 2024 PCC election, but was defeated for re-election by the Labour party.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72p39z3prro |title=Conservatives lose Avon and Somerset PCC to Labour |work=BBC News |date=3 May 2024 |access-date=3 May 2024}}
References
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External links
- {{Twitter|ShelfordMark|Mark Shelford Avon and Somerset PCC}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shelford, Mark}}
Category:Police and crime commissioners in England
Category:Conservative Party police and crime commissioners