The Liberal Democrats have announced their police and crime commissioner candidate for Hertfordshire.

Lara Pringle, currently a Lib Dem councillor in Dacorum, will stand for the party at the PCC elections in May later this year.

The party is the only one so far to have confirmed their Herts candidate for the forthcoming election, but it is likely current commissioner David Lloyd will stand again for the Tories.

Mrs Pringle, a criminal barrister with more than two decades of experience prosecuting, has worked professionally with every police force in the country.

She believes that within Hertfordshire not enough is being done to tackle hidden crimes, especially domestic abuse.

She said: "We need to take a tough line on bringing more perpetrators to justice, particularly in cases of domestic abuse. 

"We need new leadership with the professional knowhow to implement strategies that will bring violent abusers to justice."

Mrs Pringle added that she will ensure police officers across Hertfordshire are properly resourced in order to tackle "local priorities".

She continued: "The only way to stop crime is to do what works. That means adopting an evidence based innovative approach. As your police and crime commissioner, I will bring my professional experience to the role.

"I will increase focus on crime prevention and community policing. I will make sure Hertfordshire police works hand in hand with education, health and other local services, so that we can help people to build lives free from crime.

"Hertfordshire police force must work for local people. It must be open and transparent with adequate funding to tackle key local priorities.

"We must do more to reverse the underinvestment in policing and other criminal justice agencies that has led to increased violence both behind closed doors and on our streets."