LABOUR'S candidate for the police and crime commissioner election in Gwent said a police background was not necessary for the job.

Hamish Sandison responded to comments by Ian Johnston, independent candidate and former Gwent Police senior officer, that the role couldn't be done by someone without police experience.

He said the role was to hold chief constable to account: "It is not a role that involves setting policing operations and deciding operational matters for the police, that's the chief constable's role."

"It is a politician who can speak to the people who is needed. I don't think you have to be a doctor to be health minister," he said.

The lawyer from near Usk who ran as Labour candidate in Monmouth in the 2010 general elections, said he would campaign on Gwent Police's proposals to close police station front desks.

Mr Sandison is the former chairman of an international law firm and spent six years as a member of Labour's crime and justice policy commission.

"I was concerned about the lack of consultation," he said, saying he would campaign "to make sure people have access to police stations in their neighbourhood".

"My hope is that we will actually avoid the decision being made in the first place," he said.

However when asked twice whether he would stop the closures, he said twice he'd want to see a "proper consultation".