A former police Superintendent who was awarded for his work for community cohesion is standing in this summer’s Police and Crime Commissioner Elections.

Andy Pratt will be the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate and also recently met with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary at a reception at Downing Street.

Mr Pratt has a long history of working with Asian community and initiated a number of programme tackling hate crime at grassroots level. He also has a extensive experience of working with community groups and religious organisations.

Mr Pratt, who is able to speak Urdu is among other things aiming to make hate crime as one of his priorities.

He said, “Prejudice takes many forms, where people are abused and attacked because of what they look like, their faith, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, age or gender.

“I know that we can do more to get to the root of the causes and create a society where everyone is respected and valued.

“Our training of professionals and education in schools and colleges has a long way to go as is our ability to effectively co-ordinate across all relevant agencies. Dealing with Hate Crime must be a police priority.”

His other aims include focussing on safer streets for all and protecting the vulnerable.

During the reception he also spoke with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary Theresa May about protecting the policing budget and was reassured by both that they remain committed to ring fencing it.

He said: “I took the opportunity to speak to David Cameron and Theresa May about the challenges we face in Lancashire.

“I’m fighting to ensure people’s priorities for policing in their area are listened to, taken seriously, and acted upon by the police.”

"The reception was a great opportunity to meet with other PCC candidates to discuss best practice and to understand some of the issues concerning them in their regions. “It was also encouraging to be able to speak directly with the Prime Minister about issues that directly matter to people in Lancashire to ensure security for the region and that policing remains firmly in the minds of those in Government." The Crime Commissioner elections will take place in May and coincide with the Council elections this year.