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Next month, voters across Gwent will head to the polls to choose the area’s next police and crime commissioner.
Labour’s Jeff Cuthbert, who was first elected to the role in 2016 and re-elected in 2021, will not be seeking re-election.
He had stood back from the role for a temporary period earlier this year due to ill health but has since resumed his duties.
The commissioner, who has the power to hire and fire the chief constable, is responsible for overseeing the Gwent force and, with the chief constable, setting the policing priorities for the area.
Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?
Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.
Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.
The new commissioner will be tasked with appointing a new chief constable as Pam Kelly announced in March her intention to retire this year.
CC Kelly has said she will work with the new commissioner to appoint her replacement.
Labour is standing its current Newport City Council leader, Jane Mudd, as its candidate to succeed Mr Cuthbert, while Hengoed councillor Donna Cushing will be standing for Plaid Cymru once again.
Hannah Jarvis will be the Conservative candidate, while Mike Hamilton is standing for the Liberal Democrats.
The election will be held on Thursday May 2.
However, due to a law change, identification such as a passport or driving licence will be needed to vote in person.
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