The first candidate selected to run for Surrey Police Commissioner has been quick to criticise plans to privatise parts of Surrey’s police service.

Newly-selected Labour candidate Robert Evans said the plans were out of touch, politically motivated and unsafe.

He said the issue was above party politics and started an online petition and campaign, which he said he would encourage other candidates upon selection.

Mr Evans said: “I’ve not met anyone in Surrey yet who thinks it a good idea to have parts of our police service run for profit by a private company.

“No one has told me they would feel safer with a private security firm patrolling our streets instead of the local bobby.

“If a Surrey resident rings 999, they want to know there’s a trained police officer at the other end, not someone in a private call centre that could be miles away, even in another country, with a supervisor breathing down their neck more interested in what the call is costing than the seriousness of the incident.”

The cost-cutting plans to privatise some areas of the force are currently on hold after Chief Constable Lynne Owens recommended a fresh approach.

Surrey Police authority met on May 17 and it was agreed the process should be slowed down so more consultation could take place.

The Business Partnering for Police programme was set to run parallel with the Olympics and Chief Con Owens said her priority was to provide a business as usual service during that period, as well as ensuring events in Surrey were safe and secure.

The senior maintained that front line policing would be protected.

Visit ipetitions.com/petition/no-private-police-in-surrey to sign the petition.