Kent Police Authority chairman Ann Barnes is to stand down next week after announcing she would contest the race to become Kent's first elected police commissioner.

Mrs Barnes was first appointed to Kent Police Authority in 2001 and was
elected chairman in 2005.

Confirming her decision, which will take effect next Friday, she said: "It is now time for me to severe my ties with the authority. I genuinely feel that it would not be right and proper for me to remain as a member for any length of time after declaring as a candidate.

"The impartiality of both the KPA and the force must be preserved at all costs in the run-up to the election for the commissioner in November."

She added: "It has been an absolute honour to serve on the authority representing the public. The force and authority do a fine job and I have been proud to serve as chair for the last six years."

It is not clear who will take her place, but it could be the deputy chairman and county councillor Mike Hill.

The authority is made up of 14 members including councillors and local people, who regularly meet with senior officers. It will be scrapped once elections for the first set of police commissioners take place in November.