The post of deputy police and crime commissioner in Wiltshire and Swindon will be abolished if the Liberal Democrat candidate Liz Webster is elected.

If she wins the race for the post in the May 6 election, she says she will scrap the job and use the money saved for a new post of an officer hired specifically to work with the traveller community.

According to figures released by the PCC’s office, the deputy earns £19,069 for a 14-hour week – full-time that would be £50,397.

Ms Webster said: “This money would be better spent on funding the police and recruiting a traveller liaison officer to reach out to communities across Wiltshire.

“Wiltshire police is one of the worst-funded police forces in the country.

"Removing this position will free up much-needed funds that we can use to prevent crime, protect victims, and engage with communities as we make Wiltshire safer and more caring.

“The deputy police and crime commissioner is unelected, meaning the post holder is not held accountable to the public.

“This is part of my plan to prevent crime, protect victims and engage with communities to make Wiltshire a safer, more caring county.”

A spokesman for the Lib Dems in Wiltshire added: “Only three forces have dedicated roles solely on community engagement with traveller communities.

"Sussex Police is the most successful example of this.

"The relationship between the police and travellers is often strained by mutual mistrust, poor communication and conflict limiting both the communities’ ability to access justice, and the police’s ability to protect citizens and fight crime.

“Liz plans to make the role focused on building relationships with the traveller community, rather than one of punitive punishments. “

The current PCC Angus Macpherson will step down in May after nine years in the job as Wiltshire and Swindon’s first PCC.

He has done an extra year in post because the elections scheduled for 2020 were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The deputy is appointed by the commissioner and not elected and is within the PCC’s power to abolish.

The post is currently held by Jerry Herbert, who has been in the job since 2018.

Other candidates in the May 6 election are the Conservative candidate Jonathon Seed, Labour’s Junab Ali and independent Mike Rees.