Alicia Kearns: Levelling up must mean protecting our rural communities

Agricultural vehicle and land rover theft is up by over a quarter. We need to stamp out serious organised crime in our countryside.

Judy Terry: Suffolk has shown has small charities can make a big difference in helping the vulnerable

A Community Foundation in the county helps the old with insulation improvements and the young to turn away from knife crime.

Sandy Verma: Labour has let Leicester down

It is the Conservatives who have spoken out over illegal and dangerous exploitation at local factories.

David Chinchen: We need to develop effective operational links between neighbourhood policing teams and our schools

The police have also neglected retailers and small businesses for many years. They need more protection from criminals.

Daniel Hannan: The police. Not institutionally racist, but institutionally woke.

Their leaders elevate race relations above what should be their core functions, such as enforcing the law impartially.

Are the Police and Crime Commissioners doomed to fail?

The National Police Chiefs’ Council must be scrapped for proper accountability to have a chance. Greater local accountability is needed.

Katy Bourne: We may be at a turning point for policing by consent

The public recognises that the response has been more about engagement than enforcement. More police powers are not needed.

Jonathon Seed: The police force in Wiltshire has been exemplary during this crisis

Distancing enforcement has been applied with a light but firm touch.

Alison Hernandez: We have a moral duty to accept the lockdown guidance

I support our robust policing in Devon and Cornwall. We have one of the lowest rates of infection and want to keep it that way.

Tim Passmore: After the lockdown ends, the criminal justice system will face great challenges

Preparations must be made to clear the backlog of court cases and prosecutions. There will be great pressure on charities helping victims.

Jay Singh-Sohal: We are being challenged in ways our country has not seen since the Second World War

The loss of our liberties is no good or easy thing to accept.  While our social life disappears, what we do have is time.

Coronavirus: some councils are doing better than others. And where are the Police and Crime Commissioners?

They should be ensuring that the police do not behave in a way that alienates people. Plus – the imperative to free up NHS beds.

Anne Crampton: In Hart, spending by the Lib Dems is out of control

More staff are being recruited in the town hall. We would give priority to free parking to boost our high streets.

Jay Singh-Sohal: It’s not just London. Knife crime is a huge problem in the West Midlands

Labour has chosen a Corbynista as its Police and Crime commissioner candidate. He won’t provide the action we need.

Local elections 2) The Conservatives can hope to gain more Police and Crime Commissioners

The start of a weekly series on this site each Monday previewing the local elections being held on May 7th.