Column by Beds Police and Crime Commissioner: “Triangle of Hope” for a safer and fairer Bedfordshire
By John Tizard
Published 4th Jun 2026, 11:06 BST
The Triangle of Hope has become a key driver for me as Police and Crime Commissioner in my pursuit of making Bedfordshire safer and fairer.
Before I was elected in May 2024, and ever since I have recognised the need to pursue safety and fairness when setting a strategic direction for policing, and for the wider criminal justice system.
Inequality and inequity in income, wealth, education, health, housing, and employment are key determinants of the chance of being a victim of crime, and in some cases being enticed into crime. Of course, crime is very often committed by those with wealth, and I am not suggesting that there is a direct attribution for criminality nor an excuse for it.
Economic and social inequality have moved in the wrong direction over the last decade. Unless we reverse this trend, preventing and reducing crime will be much harder. More government action is required to redistribute income, wealth, and power, and tackle the underlying structural causes, but we must act locally too.
The sides of the Triangle of Hope, as I have described it, are social justice, criminal justice, and human rights.
Criminal justice, social justice, and human rights are deeply interdependent concepts that rely on one another to function effectively. Human rights establish the foundational legal and moral standards and entitlements for citizenship. Social justice is about the equitable distribution of resources, and opportunities needed to access those rights. Criminal justice enforces laws and provides accountability, but it must uphold human rights and be sensitive to social inequalities to be just and fair.
The law must not be enforced unequally or inequitably. This requires policy changes, community investment in public services, and alternative resolutions which reduce a reliance on the court system and custodial sentences.
The Triangle will only contribute if underpinned by three pillars – community cohesion, excellent governance, and democratic accountability, and the effective and efficient use of resources.
Over the next two years, I am committed to be guided by The Triangle of Hope to secure a safer and fairer Bedfordshire; pursue county wide system change, and to advocate for more bold progressive policies from government.
Beds Police and Crime Commissioner addressing a community event organised by The GP Ministries in Luton on 23rd May’26