A second Independent has entered the race to become the first West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cath Hannon, a former Detective Superintendent with the force, says she has a unique set of skills and abilities that are not available to any other candidate for the £100,000-a-year job.

On a launched this week, Ms Hannon says she will not be “restricted by political boundaries and alliances” and will use her 30 years of experience as a police officer to keep the people of the West Midlands safe.

Birmingham-born Ms Hannon retired from the police force in 2010.

Her manifesto states: “I tackled a wide range of criminality including burglary, anti-social behaviour, terrorism, domestic extremism, organised crime and gang violence, through the development of innovative initiatives to protect the residents of the West Midlands.

“I’ve also led multi-agency teams to improve police investigations and support for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, forced marriage, honour- based violence as well as safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

“With my teams I also built strategic police partnerships across national and international boundaries to increase community safety through the active policing and supervision of violent and sexual offenders.

“Since 2010 I’ve worked for the General Social Care Council and become a trustee for the Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) which provides support and counselling for men and women in the Birmingham and Solihull areas.”

If elected Police and Crime Commissioner, Ms Hannon promises to:

• Ensure that views are heard and acted upon through on-going communication and implement a new and active partnership between the public and the police;
• Cut crime that concerns people most by consulting communities and businesses to ensure we deliver the right resources, in the right places, at the right time;
• Review the criminal justice system to ensure that victims and witnesses are at the heart of the process, every time;
• Tackle violent crime, abuse and hate crimes head on, to help make communities safer.

Ms Hannon is the second former police officer to contest the PCC position.

Retired detective Mike Rumble has also announced his intention to stand as an Independent.

Mr Rumble says he wants to make sure that party politics plays no part in running the police service.

On his , he lists priorities for the PCC:

Ms Hannon and Mr Rumble will face Labour candidate Bob Jones and Conservative Matt Bennett at the elections on November 15.

In common with all candidates, the pair will each have to pay a £5,000 deposit which will be lost if either fails to gain more than five per cent of votes cast.