IT is a chance to elect Hampshire’s very own law and order champion.

Five men and one woman are going head-to-head next week to become the county’s first Police and Crime Commissioner.

And by casting their votes on November 15, voters across the land will be part of the biggest shake-up in policing in recent memory.

Today, we bring you a profile of the runners and riders vying for the £85,000-a-year Hampshire post, which will replace the current Hampshire Police Authority.

The winner will be tasked with setting the police budget, shaping crime-fighting strategies and hiring and firing the chief constable.

Residents will already be receiving their polling cards through the post with details of where they can vote.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm with the result reached using the Supplementary Voting system.

An announcement on the winner is expected once votes are counted up the day after on Friday, November 16.

The new Police and Crime Commissioner must then sign a declaration of acceptance of office at Southampton City Council’s civic offices before beginning the role on November 22.

DON JERRARD http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/10038658.DON_JERRARD/

STEPHEN WEST http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/10038655.STEPHEN_WEST/

JACQUI RAYMENT http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/10038651.JACQUI_RAYMENT/

MICHAEL MATES http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/10038645.MICHAEL_MATES/

SIMON HAYES http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/10038641.SIMON_HAYES/

DAVID GOODALL http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/elections/elections_2012/news/