ON NOVEMBER 15 the people of Essex will go to the polls to pick our first elected police commissioner.

Whoever wins will become one of the most powerful politicians in Essex, with the power to hire and fire chief constables, set the force's nine-figure annual budget and outline its priorities.

The change is intended to give voters more control over the police. In a distinct Americanisation of local politics, the new leader will act like Commissioner Gordon, the character made famous by Pat Hingle and Gary Oldman in the Batman films.

This week Mick Thwaites, a retired chief superintendent at Essex Police, became the first man to throw his name into the hat.

"This is an incredible democratic opportunity," he told a press conference at Essex County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford.

"We should not underestimate how important for Essex these elections in November are to ensuring we maintain a safe and secure county."

Mr Thwaites, who led the police operation at the Korean Air plane crash at Stansted in 1999 and has been in charge of the force's firearms, armed robbery, kidnap and traffic teams, will run as an independent candidate – not allied to any political party.

He added: "I believe this role is too important to give to a politician. The people of Essex deserve a real choice of someone that is independent and not driven by politics or ambition and simply wants the people of Essex to have a real voice at the centre of policing.

"If I was elected I would ensure the people of Essex are heard loud and clear when it comes to their safety and security.

"There are parts of this new way of doing things that make me very uneasy, one of which is the idea of policing being controlled by a political process and the thought that all the nominations are simply sewn up by internal party decisions. This would be a disaster for Essex and a disaster for policing."

The commissioner, who will command a salary of around £80,000 a year, will not be expected to run the police – the task is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account.

"If I get the job I don't think my former colleagues are going to like seeing me walk through the door and I don't believe it's going to be an easy ride," said Mr Thwaites.

"But I will represent the views of the people of Essex and I will not be pally with anybody on the force."

The new police commissioner will replace the existing Essex Police Authority, a body made up mainly of local councillors which is supposed to hold the force to account but has been branded "invisible" by Home Secretary Theresa May.

"It is very clear both here in Essex and across the country that there is a lack of effective accountability that police authorities exert on policing," said Mr Thwaites, 65, a married father of three who has lived in Essex since childhood.

"It cannot be right that nearly 70 per cent of the public have no idea where to go to complain if they are not happy with the way their local area is being policed.

"A strong connection between police and public is the foundation of policing. That is why it's so important that police forces are accountable and so important the people of Essex use this opportunity to vote to change the way things are done.

"It is apparent the police may well have lost their way. At a time when chief constables claim they cannot police the streets because of budget cuts, there remains a perception that there is still bad practice, duplication and inefficiency.

"There is no doubt in my mind that good policing requires a close relationship with their communities.

"I am also determined that the commissioner should put the needs of victims of crime at the centre of their agenda. How victims are treated is essential to maintaining public trust and being able to police effectively.

"This is why commissioners will consult with victims in setting policing priorities in their local area.

"For the first time, victims of crime will have a statutory role in determining what the police should focus on, and how.

"There has been too much weight on the rights of criminals and far less on the rights of victims. Let's re-balance this in Essex.

"The public do not want elections for the sake of having elections. What they do want from the elected commissioners is safer streets, less crime, a more transparent and responsive police force, and, yes, they understand at the same time cost will have to be reduced.

"I believe I have the ability and knowledge that is required to sort out what structure should be in place that delivers better more effective and accountable policing across Essex."