Kathryn Holloway - Bedfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner

Hello I’m Kathryn Holloway. I’ve lived in Bedfordshire for 18 years in Ampthill, in Central Bedfordshire and Ravensden and Renhold in the north of the county. My background includes two decades as a reporter and presenter of news, current affairs and live programmes for services including ITV1, ITN, Sky News, TV-am, LBC, Talk Radio and The Daily and Sunday Express, covering every stage of the justice system from close up. As a journalist I’ve spent my professional life getting to the truth of the matter and it seems to me that’s exactly what’s required of a Police and Crime Commissioner who holds the Chief Constable and police force to account. 

Since 2000 I’ve won global recognition as a specialist in Crisis Communications - including as a keynote speaker at the Toronto World Conference on Disaster Management in 2014. I’ve provided resilience training at board level for some of Britain’s largest companies like KPMG, Burberry and Lloyds of London. I was part of the UK’s Civil Contingencies Secretariat for 8 years, helping the Gold Commanders of the emergency services and military understand the importance of releasing public information in an emergency and have supported police forces in the course of some of the UK’s most serious criminal cases, including the Soham murders and serial killings of Dr Harold Shipman. I understand both emergencies and serious crime. On my watch the public will be kept informed and police action will be explained.

Bedfordshire Police has traditionally faced budget problems, funded as a rural force without taking into account the urban problems of Luton and Bedford. I will fight our corner within Government for the best share possible and know my way around but I understand the need to work within our means too. I will relentlessly pursue the most efficient use of our budget, starting with savings in my own office not the frontline, and as someone who believes in practical, common sense solutions, will provide innovation to deliver the best possible policing for Bedfordshire.

I will not forget the huge debt we owe to our officers too, who continue to devote themselves to duty here when, with a short commute to the capital, they could work for the Metropolitan Police and be sure of back-up in an emergency in a few minutes in a force with more than twice the number of officers to each 100,000 of the population than ours. I will protect the police to protect the public if you choose me as your Commissioner on 5th May 2016 and deliver on these promises. You have my word.

Vote of Thanks by Rotarian Virendra Soni

"Kathryn thanks for making time to come and speak to our Rotary Club tonight. We feel privileged.Your powerful and effective oratory reflects your career as TV presenter and reporter. You took us from Lockerbie incidence to  ,Justice system, your business for 17 year, oath of impartiality other experiences to your new way of policing in Bedford to make it a safer place to live. Your excellent relationship with Chief constable and police. Public wants Visible Policing in Community .Easy to report crime to police.Your 100 achievements in 100 days in office. Q/A   session tells us  how much interest you have created in the audience and  was well handled by you. People of Bedfordshire have elected you as their P C C,what we have heard today from you,  we are sure that you will serve them well. Thank you once again."