Seven candidates are vying to become Norfolk Police And Crime Commissioner in the election on 16 July, after Sarah Taylor resigned last month. The vote will choose who sets policing priorities in Norfolk for the remaining period before the role is scrapped in two years' time.
Matthew Taylor and the Conservative
Matthew Taylor is the Conservative PCC candidate and, at 27 years old, would become the youngest commissioner in Norfolk by some margin since the role was created in 2012. He is a district and county councillor for Stalham.
He said supporting residents and businesses affected by crime pushed him to stand. His three priorities are better supporting victims of crime, action on antisocial behaviour and improving police visibility.
Sarah Taylor's resignation
The election was called after Sarah Taylor resigned last month. She had stood for Labour and quit Labour in 2025 in protest about the role being dropped.
Commissioners do not run day-to-day policing. They set the priorities for a police force, hold police forces to account and can appoint a new chief constable when necessary.
Martin Schmierer's case
Martin Schmierer is standing for The Green Party while arguing the post should not exist. He said he wants to do his bit to make Norfolk better, but he also called the election a waste of taxpayers' money.
Schmierer believes the Police and Crime Panel should perform the duties of a PCC. He also wants a change in approach to tackle the underlying cause of crime, along with reform on policing drugs and support for decriminalising drug use, which he compares with Portugal's model.
Voters in Norfolk are choosing between candidates with sharply different ideas about the commissioner role itself, not just policing priorities. The decision on 16 July will determine who holds that power while the office still exists.
