THIS week is Lisa Townsend’s first in her new job as Surrey’s police and crime commissioner.

The Conservative replaces independent David Munro after she was elected with a total of 155,116 votes on May 6, with the Liberal Democrats’ Paul Kennedy coming second with 112,215 votes.

It was the highest turnout of any Surrey PCC election yet (38.8 per cent), coming after just 15.7 per cent of voters turned out for the first in 2012.

The role involves holding the police force to account, setting its priorities and acting as a bridge between the police and the public. Across England and Wales there are now 29 Conservatives, 11 Labour and one Plaid Cymru PCCs in the role.

Mrs Townsend, who lives in Ottershaw, has two law degrees and left her communications job at the Institute of Directors to take on the PCC role over the next three years.

Days after the poll, we got to know the county’s first female PCC a little better...

What made you want to apply for the role of PCC?

“For someone interested in public service, it is a role that really allows you to make a genuine difference to people’s lives, because of the fantastic convening power and the substantial budget there that has got to be spent very wisely. There’s an awful lot that can be done with it.

“People get very caught up in the policing side and sometimes forget the crime element, where we can make a serious difference in terms of preventing people from being sucked down that path.”

How will you ensure more crimes are solved?

“I haven’t started in the role yet but I will be speaking to the chief constable and other officers and we’ll take it from there.”

What’s your experience in policing?

“I don’t have experience in policing, I think that’s important. I don’t believe the right person for this job is a former police officer.

“We have an excellent chief constable and the last thing they need is another police officer sat in the PCC chair.

“It is absolutely independent from operational policing. It is about going out there listening to what residents want.”

Do you see yourself first and foremost as PCC for Surrey or as a Conservative?

“Absolutely as the PCC. It’s no secret that as a Conservative there are 29 of us and a Conservative in the Home Office and we intend to work very closely together. But my duty is to the people of Surrey.”

So if there are funding cuts from above, will you challenge those?

“Of course.”

Charlie Chirico dropped out of the race citing a ‘toxic environment’. Is that something you recognise?

“I don’t recognise that. I don’t know her, I’ve never met her. She’s absolutely entitled to have her view but my experience has been very collaborative, as I expected.”

Were you surprised how well the Liberal Democrats did in a Tory heartland?

“I wasn’t surprised how well they did. In a county that traditionally doesn’t vote Labour and has two former PCCs, it was more a rejection of them than a vote of confidence in the Liberal Democrats, who have made no secret of the fact they want to see the post abolished.”

Do you envisage any change in the police force under your direction?

“Residents want more representation on the force so I do intend to change the direction in that sense. They want their voice heard.”