THE first candidate who will stand in the Cambridgeshire police commissioner election in November has officially been announced.

Peterborough City Councillor Ed Murphy was announced as the Labour candidate earlier this week. He beat the current Cambridgeshire Police Authority chairman Ruth Rogers in a vote among party members.

During Cllr Murphy’s time as a Cambridgeshire county councillor he was the Labour group representative on Cambridgeshire Police Authority.

Cllr Murphy said: “If elected, I will not take the full salary but will use it to fund crime prevention and put in place a process for the public to access the budget to deliver crime reduction projects that work.”

His opposition is likely to include magistrate Paul Bullen, who is just waiting confirmation from UKIP to stand, and a Conservative candidate who is due to be announced next week.

The Conservative shortlist consists of Cambridgeshire County Councillor Shona Johnstone, former MP Sir Graham Bright and ex-RAF officer John Pye.

? Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce chairman John Bridge has said he is not standing in the election as indicated in The Hunts Post last week.

We apologise for any embarrassment caused to Mr Bridge.