A CANDIDATE for the first ever elections for police and crime commissioners visited Okehampton on September 13 to meet borough Councillor Kevin Ball.

Conservative candidate Tony Hogg made the visit to discuss issues affecting people in the area.

Cllr Ball said: 'I organised this meeting to ensure that issues affecting Okehampton and the town's surrounding villages are very much on Mr Hogg's radar and I'm pleased to say that they were.

'We discussed agricultural theft, anti-social behaviour and even the less serious, but still significant problems of illegal parking congesting our town's already busy roads and dog fouling.'

Mr Hogg said: 'It was very good to spend the morning in Okehampton and listen to a local councillor fighting his town's corner when it comes to police presence, accessibility and in particular, anti-social behaviour.'

Each of the 41 police force areas in England and Wales outside London will directly elect police and crime commissioners on November 15 to replace police authorities currently in charge. PCCs will be responsible for setting priorities for their police force, overseeing its budget and hiring the chief constable.

While the final list of candidates will be announced on October 19, those who have announced their candidacy so far are independents Brian Greenslade, William Morris and John Smith, and Labour's Nicky Williams.