FORMER MP Bob Spink has been selected as Ukip’s candidate to be the next Essex police and crime commissioner.

Mr Spink, who represented Castle Point from 1992 to 1997 and 2001 to 2010, will stand in May’s election to replace current Tory commissioner Nick Alston, who is stepping down.

He is pledging to fight “massive Tory police cuts in Essex”, support frontline officers and help people feel safer.

Mr Spink said: "We need relentless targeting of known habitual criminals to make their life hell in Essex, so they stop ruining decent people’s lives.

"We must fight the Tory’s street light ban. I’ll listen very carefully to what Essex people want.

“I’ll work diligently with the chief constable, County Hall and the Home Office to ensure people feel safer, and thugs and criminals in Essex feel much more threatened. It’s time to turn the screw on crime."

Mr Spink was first elected as Tory MP for Castle Point in 1992. He lost to Labour’s Christine Butler in 1997, but regained the seat in 2001.

In 2008, he resigned his Tory membership and joined Ukip, becoming its first MP.

He lost out to Tory Rebecca Harris in 2010, standing under the Independent Save Our Green Belt banner, but rejoined Ukip last year.

Mr Spink added: "Earlier this year I got out of bed and caught a burglar red-handed. Essex Police were fantastic, but severely stretched. “This reminded me just how important it is to support the police and fight the massive Tory cuts that are seriously undermining police work.”

County councillor Roger Hirst (Con) and Southend councillor Martin Terry (Ind) have already announced they will stand in May’s election.