Lorne Edmond Green is a Canadian-born English politician and former diplomat, who was Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, representing the Conservative Party. Green was elected to the post on 5 May 2016, succeeding the previous incumbent, Stephen Bett.[1]

Lorne Edmond Green
Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner
In office
5 May 2016 – 8 May 2021
Preceded byStephen Bett
Succeeded byGiles Orpen-Smellie
Personal details
Born1946 (age 77–78)
CitizenshipBritish, Canadian
Political partyConservative
Residence(s)Snettisham, Norfolk
Alma materDalhousie University

Biography

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Diplomacy

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Born in Nova Scotia, Green is a graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax.[2] He joined the Canadian Department of External Affairs after graduation, and held diplomatic posts in Pakistan, Iran and Yugoslavia, as well as serving at the Canadian High Commission in London under Paul Martin,[2] where he was promoted to become the mission's press officer.[3] In the 1980s, he served on NATO's Nuclear Planning Group in Brussels dealing with the controversy surrounding cruise missiles, and was also Director of Nuclear and Arms Control Policy in the Department of National Defence in Ottawa, Ontario.[4]

In 1998, he left External Affairs to help form the World Nuclear Transport Institute in London, and later retired from the diplomatic world in 2011, opening a coffee shop in Snettisham.[2]

Police and Crime Commissioner

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In 2015, Green was approached by the local Conservative Party association to stand in the 2016 election for Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner, which he won in May 2016.[2] Green chose not to stand for re-election, citing the long drive between his home in King's Lynn and the office in Wymondham.[5] After the election was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was eventually succeeded by Giles Orpen-Smellie in May 2021.[6]

Electoral record

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Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner election, 2016
Party Candidate 1st round 2nd round 1st round votesTransfer votes, 2nd round
Total Of round Transfers Total Of round
Conservative Lorne Green 42,928 27.76% 17,133 60,061 54.43
Labour Chris Jones 37,141 24.02% 13,146 50,287 45.57
UKIP David Moreland 27,030 17.48%
Independent Stephen Bett 25,527 16.51%
Liberal Democrats Jacky Howe 12,838 8.30%
Green Martin Schmierer 9,187 5.94%
Turnout 154,651 23.20%
Conservative gain from Independent

References

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  1. ^ "Tory Lorne Green ousts Stephen Bett as Norfolk PCC". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Waldie, Paul (28 August 2016). "Retired Canadian diplomat becomes police commissioner in England". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  3. ^ Donaghy, Greg (2015). Grit: The Life and Politics of Paul Martin Sr. Vancouver: UBC Press. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-7748-2911-3.
  4. ^ Dickson, Annabelle (9 May 2016). "What we know about the new police and crime commissioner for Norfolk Lorne Green". Eastern Daily Press. Norwich. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  5. ^ Moxon, Daniel (11 February 2020). "Police chief to leave due to Norfolk travel distances". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  6. ^ Walsh, Peter (12 May 2021). "'Honour of my life' - Former crime commissioner reflects on time in role". Eastern Daily Press.