Avon and Somerset's new Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens officially sworn in

AVON and Somerset's first police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens has been officially sworn in.

Mrs Mountstevens, who was elected commissioner on Friday, took an oath of impartiality today at a ceremony held at The Station youth centre in Bristol city centre.

The oath echoes a similar commitment police officers make to serve every member of the public impartially, and was witnessed by the Police Area Returning Officer Stephen McNamara.

The 57-year-old former magistrate also publicly set our her commitment to tackling the new role with integrity.

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The independent candidate from North Somerset said her four priorities in the new role would be targeting anti-social behaviour, burglary, violence against women and girls and making sure victims, and consideration of how they are treated is at the heart of the criminal justice system.

In her acceptance speech, the married mother-of-three said she would not be setting out one police and crime plan, but one for each of the six districts in the Avon and Somerset area. This means that Bristol will have its own specific policing plan for the first time.

Mrs Mountstevens also said she would be setting up a panel of volunteers to scrutinise the force, and asked anyone with a passion for policing to come forward.

She will also be appointing a youth ambassador, who will help young people get their voices heard.

Mrs Mountstevens recorded a decisive victory in Friday's election, defeating her Tory rival and favourite Ken Maddock by almost 60,000 votes.

Mrs Mountstevens, who also saw off competition from Lib Dem Pete Levy and Labour candidate John Savage, said she had the experience required for the role, which replaces the 17-member police authority.

She has the power to set the police force's budget and hold the chief constable to account.

During her acceptance speech she told the audience of around 200 people, which included Bristol's new mayor George Ferguson, that she would be freezing the policing share of council tax in Avon and Somerset.

She also said she would be lobbying central Government to stop more cuts to the force's budget.

The new Police and Crime Commissioner also announced that 24 new officers would be joining the force in January, with 48 more joining later in the year.

Accepting the role, Mrs Mountstevens said: "The things that excite me about this role are the things that unite all of us together.

"We want our residents to be safe, but also to feel safe.

"I am determined to make a real difference - and I hope you are too."