Lord Prescott launches bid for post

Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott is hitting the road to launch his bid to become the country's highest profile police and crime commissioner.

He will unveil his election minibus which he will use to tour Humberside ahead of the November elections.

It has been designed as a "mobile consultation surgery" where people can speak to the Labour candidate about policing and crime issues.

He wants to focus on police cuts and is pledging to protect frontline posts.

He said he wanted a "Plan B" as an alternative to losing police officer numbers in Humberside and asked the public's help in drafting his manifesto.

"If elected, I'll make sure the public are heard and protected from these frontline cuts," he said.

Lord Prescott, 74, was MP for Hull East from 1970 to 2010.

He has the highest profile of anyone who has declared candidacy for one of the new police commissioner roles which were introduced by the coalition Government.