Barrie Sheldon was the Deputy PCC for West Mercia for four years from 2012, during which time the West Mercia Police Alliance with Warwickshire Police was established. He stood as an Independent for PCC in 2016, where he was defeated by the Conservative candidate, John Campion. In this EXCLUSIVE article for Policing Insight, Barrie Sheldon provides his perspective on West Mercia's decision to break up the Alliance.