On 15th November the people of England and Wales will have the opportunity to vote for Police Commissioners.
The BBC web site contains a useful summary http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19504639
Apparently, the idea for elected police commissioners was contained in the Conservative manifesto of 2010. And was then given the nod by the coalition agreement. So straight away we run into a problem as I see it. Given that the Tories did not have an outright majority how come this is being brought in? (The same is true of lots of other things of course such as NHS reforms, student loans etc etc.)
But why do we need the Commissioners? According to the Home Office website this will enable me to have a say when it comes to cutting crime in my area. Well, call me old fashioned, but I can’t say I have ever thought “Do you know what? I want a say in how crime is cut in my area by speaking to a Police Commissioner.” If I’ve been worried about crime I would speak to my elected local councillor or my elected MP.
Ah you may say. But your councillor or your MP cannot dictate to the police how an area should be policed. I actually think that’s a good thing. It seems to me there is a real danger in allowing one person put pressure on a Chief Constable to do a certain thing. For example, what if the Police Commissioner has an obsession with Speed Cameras and wants them installed everywhere? (OK not a good example.) So what if the Commissioner decides he wants more “Bobbies on the beat” because that is the Commissioner’s obsession? Is the Commissioner going to be skilled in assessing the impact of such a move on overall policing?
My concerns have been niggling away so I decided to write to my MP.
Dear Sir
Because I am a volunteer chaplain with Wiltshire Police, I’ve had a few conversations with Officers and members of the public over the last couple of weeks about police commissioners. Generally most comments tend to range from “Never heard of them” via “Not interested” and “Won’t bother voting” to “Don’t see the point” and “What’s the cost?”
So in the interests of trying to inform people I encounter about this, I’d be interested to know your views about the benefits. And also what it is going to cost.
Many thanks.
David
My MP replied as follows:
Dear David,
Thank you for your email. I have copied in to our (Conservative) candidate who will also be able to respond.
In a nutshell the elected Police Commissioner will be an elected, accountable individual who can set the local policing priorities.
We currently have a Police Authority, packed by Councillors – all of whom are paid, but no-one can name. The elected commissioner will be cheaper than the current Police Authority, with the money saved going into frontline policing.
Our candidate is a local resident (Wroughton) with extensive knowledge of Policing and the Justice system.
It is fair to say a November election isn’t helpful, but I am afraid the Lib Dems were responsible for this. Future Police Commissioner elections will be on the same day as the annual May elections.
It would appear our opposition isn’t making much effort which whilst good for us politically, it doesn’t help with raising the profile of the role.
The candidate also added:
Dear David,
Can I build on that.
The cost of the office off the PCC will be no more than that of the police authority it replaces. Indeed the cost of the many meetings the PA had with the force will also be reduced and it is envisaged that the process of decision making will be much swifter.
It is a pity the election has not been more widely publicised, but over recent days “working” the markets across the county I have found an increase in interest. It should be remembered that this job is much bigger than just policing, as it covers youth offending, victims and prisoner health, and it seems that it may have further responsibility in the future.
I believe that, beyond the pure commissioning role, it will be an important role in the county in bring together agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to build better and stronger communities, which are a foundation for crime reduction and the basis upon which British policing works, policing by consent.
I think this explains why it is important that people vote, so that a person with the skills to deliver this is elected to the post.
These answers beg further questions
Who are you? My MP said We currently have a Police Authority, packed by Councillors – all of whom are paid, but no-one can name. That’s true. I can’t name the members of the police authority - though a glance at the Wiltshire Police Authority web site tells me that the current authority for Wiltshire Police is made up of
• 6 councillors appointed by Wiltshire Council
• 3 councillors appointed by Swindon Borough Council
• 8 independent members (one of whom is a magistrate)
And all named.
Personally I’d far rather the police force be held to account by 17 people as opposed to 1. And if the concern was that no one knew who the Police Authority was, then why not fix that rather than bring in some post more suited to Gotham City than Swindon?
Cost. Neither my MP nor the Tory candidate was specific on cost. The MP said The elected commissioner will be cheaper than the current Police Authority, with the money saved going into frontline policing. On the other hand the Candidate said The cost of the office off the PCC will be no more than that of the police authority it replaces.
Which is it? Is there a saving or is it the same?
I am left with a moral dilemma. I do not approve of this measure. (In fact I’ve yet to meet anyone who does – including Tory voters!) So do I boycott the election? Of if I do vote am I condoning this shambles? Who do I vote for?
Life was so much easier in the days of Dixon of Dock Green!
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