Gareth Derrick joined the Labour Party in 2015 after completing a 36-year career in the Royal Navy, and in 2016 he was narrowly defeated  in the Police and Crime Commissioner  election for Devon and Cornwall.

Later, in the snap General Elections of  2017 and 2019 he stood as Parliamentary candidate for South East Cornwall driving Labour into 2nd place for the first time. He was elected as a Plymouth City Councillor in 2018 and appointed to Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Panel to scrutinise the Commissioner’s plans for policing and commissioning priorities. 

Aiming to bring about more effective policing throughout the region and promising  strong leadership and integrity in the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, Gareth has strong credentials based on his service experience and his commitment to Labour Party values.  

Gareth knows that people have lost much of their trust in today’s politicians but as a former serviceman he is proud to be standing up and ready to serve again to represent the needs of all communities to ensure our policing and criminal justice needs are met. His approach will be focused on improved crime reduction, victim support,  and not playing politics in policing.

He pledges an honest and open approach to every aspect of the role.