VOTING is today under way to elect West Yorkshire’s first ever Police and Crime Commissioner.

The count will take place amid tight security at Cathedral House on St Thomas’ Road, Folly Hall, tomorrow.

And the four candidates have spent the last few weeks campaigning hard to win votes.

The only politically independent candidate, former detective inspector Cedric Christie, has run his campaign from Clayton West.

He said: “From talking to people on the streets of West Yorkshire it is clear a lot don’t want politics in policing. People have talked to me about the whole range of policing issues and because of my experience as a former police officer and knowledge of the laws I have been able to answer them.’’

He said his experience ranged from tackling anti-social behaviour to very serious crimes and dealing with victims of crime.

“I see myself as someone to make things a lot better in terms of the relationship between the public and the police,’’ he said.

Mr Christie said he had sent out leaflets via local newspapers and people had contacted him offering help to distribute leaflets in their areas. He has also canvassed widely across the county and used social networking extensively.

“I’ve funded it all myself,’’ he said. “I’ve had no donations from anyone.’’

The Labour candidate has distributed 20,000 leaflets across Huddersfield – with over 7,000 delivered in Dalton.

Mark Burns-Williamson was this week out and about in Huddersfield talking to voters and delivering leaflets in Fartown and Birkby with Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan and a team of supporters.

Former West Yorkshire Police Authority chairman Mr Burns-Williamson said: “My campaign has been about listening to the voters and over the last days and weeks I have been talking directly to hundreds of people across Huddersfield and many more across West Yorkshire whose lives, and those of their families, are in a very real way affected by what happens.

“The message I have been given on the doorsteps and in public meetings is clear. People in Huddersfield want more frontline policing not less, want stronger neighbourhood policing not the privatisation of the police and are worried about the safety of their community.”

The Tory candidate, Clr Geraldine Carter from Calderdale, said she had fundraised hard to pay for leaflets.

She has been in Holmfirth and Honley and has leafleted homes in Huddersfield, the Colne Valley, Leeds, Castleford and Pontefract.

“My campaign has been funded by local people,’’ she said. “There are a million households in West Yorkshire and yet the most any of the candidates could spend is £287,000.”

Clr Andrew Marchington from Golcar, the Lib Dem candidate, said: “I’ve been out and about door knocking in Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford, trying to meet as many people as possible.

“I’ve also done media interviews with newspapers, radio and TV – that’s the only way I can effectively get in touch with large numbers of people.’’

And he will be out and about in Golcar, Milnsbridge and Longwood today doing some last minute canvassing.

WEST Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner candidates have all signed up to Victim Support’s manifesto and pledges.

The manifesto means the candidates have committed to five promises:

To be open and accountable to victims and witnesses, seeking out and acting on their views

Ensure that victims and witnesses get the high quality help and support they need, when they need it

Make the police more victim focused and more effective at meeting their needs

Give victims and witnesses an effective voice in the wider criminal justice system

Constantly work to develop new ways of delivering justice for victims.

Lesley McLean, the Victim Support divisional manager for West Yorkshire, said: “I am pleased to say that all four candidates have signed to say they support the Five Promises. We look forward to working with the elected candidate.”