AS the police and crime commissioner elections draw near, the Cambrian News takes a look at the five candidates for North Wales who will be hoping to win your vote on 5 May.

You will be offered the chance to vote at the same time as votes are cast for the Welsh Assembly Election, and the candidates are:

Arfon Jones Plaid Cymru

Arfon Jones is originally from Harlech, but now lives in Gwersyllt, Wrexham.

He was educated at Ysgol Ardudwy and studied Medical Laboratory Sciences in what is now UWIC in Cardiff.

In 1978 he joined North Wales Police in Tywyn where he was stationed as a uniformed constable.

After 30 years within the police force he retired in January 2008 and stood successfully as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the council elections for his home ward of Gwersyllt.

Julian Sandham Independent

Julian Sandham was appointed to the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner in December 2013.

He was educated at John Bright’s school in Llandudno, and through the Open University, he served as a police officer in north Wales for over 33 years. Roles he carried out in the latter part of his service included head of administration of justice, divisional commander and head of corporate services.

After retiring from the force, he project-managed some collaboration work in the region and has lectured in police studies.

David Taylor Labour

David Taylor was brought up in north Wales and educated at Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin.

He spent five years working for Labour in the Welsh Assembly before being appointed special adviser to Peter Hain when he was Secretary of State for Wales.

David has also co-founded a cyber security business in Wales which was acquired last year by investors.

More recently David has worked internationally, advising those working to extradite former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to the USA on corruption charges.

Simon Wall UKIP

Simon Wall was born in Bangor and raised on Anglesey.

He attended Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln and trained as a teacher and received a postgraduate qualification (PGCE) through Nottingham Trent University.

He taught in a residential unit before switching careers to become a police officer.

He returned to education and set up his own training consultancy, and has worked in colleges, business training departments and in the corporate sector. He currently works for the UKIP MEP for Wales.

Matt Wright Conservative

Matt Wright lives in Nannerch in Flintshire and has been a county councillor for 12 years. He also has 28 years of business and management experience to director level including as a senior consultant in the defence sector.

He has worked closely with community organisations, including areas of deprivation, such as west Rhyl, as well as supporting neighbourhood watch schemes. Matt has also chaired and been on the board of directors of a number of public and private organisations in north Wales.