CARLISLE man, David Allen, has been selected as Labour’s candidate for next year’s election for the Police,Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Cumbria.

The current PFCC is the Conservative's Peter McCall who was elected for the second time in 2021 with more than 50 per cent of the vote. 

Mr Allen was raised in Grange Over Sands and Cartmel, in the south of the county, and joined the Cumbria Constabulary in1986 as a young probationer constable where he was posted to Carlisle.

He has had numerous roles both in uniform and plain clothes and has experience working in the county and was stationed in Carlisle, Barrow and Workington, rising through the ranks to Superintendent.

In 2000 he was seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service, oversaw the UK's policing response to crack cocaine and ultimately leading its Anti-Corruption Unit.

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He led the UK’s Bureau at Europol in the Hague, tackling serous organised crime affecting Europe and led the UK Fugitive Bureau as well as the UK Interpol and Europol Bureaus at the National Crime Agency before retiring in 2016 as Head of The UK International Crime Bureau.

“I feel very humbled and privileged to have been chosen for this important role,” said David. 

"The role of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is serious business and if elected I will demonstrate that Labour can competently manage these services to deliver for the people of Cumbria."

The PFCC is set to take place in May next year.