NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS councillor Jeanie Bell has been confirmed as the new Deputy Police Commissioner for Merseyside.

Cllr Bell, who has served as St Helens Cabinet Member for Community Safety since May 2019, was formally selected for the role after the region's Police and Crime Panel supported Commissioner Emily Spurrell's appointment.

Declaring she will fight to build stronger communities across Merseyside, the mum-of-three will help deliver Ms Spurrell's vision and priorities for the region and deputising when necessary.

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St Helens Star: Cllr Bell has served as St Helens Cabinet Member for Community Safety since May 2019Cllr Bell has served as St Helens Cabinet Member for Community Safety since May 2019 (Image: St Helens Council)

The new Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Cllr Bell said: “I would like to thank the Panel for confirming me as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

"I can’t wait to get started - visiting communities across this brilliant region to listen to their concerns to ensure I can be a loud voice on their behalf and redouble our efforts to make our communities even safer.

“Emily’s vision and values really align with mine and I am excited to be working on the priorities she set out in her Police and Crime which I wholeheartedly share – fighting crime, building stronger communities, protecting the vulnerable and supporting victims.

"I am committed to working alongside her to build stronger, safer communities across Merseyside.”

St Helens Star: Working as a Community Safety Cabinet Member in St HelensWorking as a Community Safety Cabinet Member in St Helens (Image: Jeanie Bell)

In addition to her work at St Helens Council, Ms Bell is head of Criminal Justice at The Brain Charity and the Local Government Association Licensing Champion.

She has also worked as a curriculum leader and lecturer in public services at St Helens College as well as in secure hospitals for offenders and Young Offenders’ Institutes.

Police Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell added: “I’m grateful to the Police and Crime Panel for supporting my appointment of Jeanie as Deputy.

“I have no doubt she has the experience, enthusiasm, and drive to do a fantastic job on behalf of our communities as Deputy.

"I am very much looking forward to her starting in post so we can work together on the priorities I’ve set for the region on behalf of local people.”