Crime candidates I HAVE been disappointed to see that, in the upcoming elections on May 6, there is only one female candidate standing in North Yorkshire. We have now had two women prime ministers and currently have 219 women MPs, so, I had hoped to see more representation in our local candidates. I have been following Alison Hume’s campaign for Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner with interest. Alison has made several pledges, addressing issues critical for North Yorkshire, including drug dealing and wildlife crime. She is also the only candidate who has pledged to tackle violence against women and girls. In North Yorkshire, the charge rate for domestic abuse-related crime last year was just four per cent, compared to nine per cent across the whole of England and Wales. This disparity is shocking, and needs to be fixed. Following the events of the past few months, I know many women are on high alert and are feeling unsafe on the streets, particularly at night.