Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to publicise the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 7 May 2020.

The statutory responsibility to raise awareness of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections rests with the Electoral Commission and the Returning Officers running the polls, although political parties and candidates also have a major - but non-statutory - role. It is expected that candidates seeking votes will undertake activity to set out their policies and encourage participation.

In parallel to this, poll cards provide electors with details of the Government run freephone telephone number and website to obtain information about candidates, which can be downloaded from the website. A paper booklet can also be requested and sent for free to an elector’s home address. Booklets can be ordered in large print, braille and audio versions.

The Government supports these statutory activities by providing funding to Police Area Returning Officers (PAROs) to raise awareness. The Government also undertakes a range of promotional activities, including via social media and the provision of advertising material to PAROs.