Merseyside’s Police Commissioner has confirmed that she will be standing down.
Jane Kennedy informed the Labour Party that she is not seeking re-election for a third time when her current term ends in 2020, ending an eight-year tenure.
The former MP won her first term in 2012 and successfully retained the role three years later with 61.7 per cent of the vote.
She said: “I have been immensely privileged and honoured to serve the people of Merseyside as their first Police and Crime Commissioner.
“Merseyside Police are the most effective and efficient urban police Force in the country, so say the inspectors of HMICFRS. I have been so very proud to work alongside them as their Commissioner.
“After considering it very carefully with my family, I have come to the decision that I will not stand for re-election next May.
“By that point, I will have served more than seven years as PCC, and I will be ready to step back from public life and hand over the responsibilities of this hugely important job to the next commissioner.”
She added: “I still have 14 months left in office and there is much more I wish to achieve.
“I will be working right up to the point that I handover to the next Commissioner and my campaign for fair funding for Merseyside Police will continue right up to that point.”