Zoe Metcalfe’s term as North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner ended at midnight last night after the role was transferred to the new Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
Labour’s David Skaith, who won the inaugural mayoral election on Friday, will now take on responsibilities for policing and crime.
Ms Metcalfe, a Conservative who held the post since November 2021, was the final directly elected commissioner for the county.
She was elected after the departure of Philip Allott, who succeeded fellow Tory Julia Mulligan — the county’s first commissioner from 2012 to 2021.
David Skaith, newly elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire who will take on the commissioner’s responsibilities.
Ms Metcalfe pledged to tackle issues such as violence against women and girls.
She also oversaw the controversial introduction of the risk and resource model for the fire service, which included plans to cut the number of overnight fire engines based in Harrogate from two to one.
The move was met with criticism from the North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union, which warned that such a decision would lead to a “second-rate emergency response service that will put lives at risk”.
The Stray Ferret requested an interview with Ms Metcalfe to reflect on her tenure as commissioner, but a spokesperson for her office said she was unavailable due to “the volume of her commitments in her final few days”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Metcalfe said it had been an “absolute privilege and pleasure” to represent York and North Yorkshire.
As I step down from my role as Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner at midnight, it has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to represent the communities of York & North Yorkshire. Congratulations to @DSkaith and best wishes for your term in office.
— Zoë Metcalfe (@zoe_metcalfe1) May 6, 2024
The commissioner’s office has now been rebranded the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning after the mayoral election.
Mr Skaith is expected to make a decision on whether to appoint a deputy mayor to take on policing and crime powers.
Read more:
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- Tense day ends in clear victory for Labour’s Harrogate-born mayor
