Martin Young exits Thames Valley police commissioner election

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Martin Young
Image caption,
Martin Young has been involved in a row with police over his collection of guns

A second independent candidate has pulled out of the race to become Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner.

Martin Young had decided to stand after becoming disheartened with police over a row about his collection of 350 guns.

His exit comes after the former chairman of the region's police authority Khan Juna withdrew.

He blamed the £5,000 deposit required for him to stand and the difficulty of reaching residents without a party political "machine".

Mr Young was planning to stand despite having a criminal record.

He was convicted of a public order offence relating to a comment made to a council officer leading to the loss of his licence and his gun collection.

But as the offence does not carry a prison sentence he was free to take part in the election.

He had called for more common sense to be used in policing, a move away from "box ticking" and better communication between victims and officers.

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