PCC Angus Macpherson selects preferred candidate to be deputy

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson has selected his preferred candidate for the new role of Deputy PCC, Jerry Herbert.  The appointment will be confirmed by the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting on Wednesday 1 August. Allowing members the opportunity to question Mr Herbert who was selected from six candidates assessed for the part-time position.

The six shortlisted candidates had to prepare, and deliver to an invited audience, a presentation about the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan and then answer questions before being interviewed by a select panel. Mr Macpherson said: “We had an impressive field of candidates and chose the six strongest applicants to go forward to the assessment day. On the day we saw some first rate presentations and question and answer sessions. “I believe that Jerry Herbert will be an excellent deputy. Much of his role will involve engagement with the public because I am keen to give the local communities we serve more say about the police service they receive. Jerry is a skilled communicator who I am confident will interact well with the public." The Police Commissioner added, the importance of a deputy who can be a good listener on his behalf and help him address the concerns raised by communities. Mr Macpherson also expressed his hopes that the Police and Crime Panel will decide to confirm Mr Herbert in the post when it meets on Wednesday. Mr Herbert said: “I am proud and delighted to have been the PCC’s choice to be his first deputy and look forward to the confirmation hearing. I am particularly relishing the opportunity to work with local communities, our MPs, councillors and other community leaders to ensure policing and justice is working for local people.” If agreed by the Police and Crime Panel, Mr Herbert will work 14 hours a week and be paid £18,000 pa. It will be a fixed term contract until the next PCC elections in May 2020. His background is in the defence and security, in both the public and private sectors. Serving more than 30 years in the British Army. On leaving the Army in 2011 he joined a major UK engineering company as an executive director. In 2017 he set up a specialist business providing consulting support to the defence and security industry. He is married with two adult daughters and lives in Salisbury.