Police and politics

Joe Egginton

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Nov 18, 2012, 4:55:36 PM11/18/12

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Dear Editor

The ridiculous farce of the police commissioners elections should be
null and void, considering so few people voted.

How can Bob Jones have a mandate when only one in twenty people voted
for him?

The election for police commissioners should have been open only to
independents with an extensive police experience. Independents that
have started at bobby level and worked themselves up to senior
management level.

Also, the constituencies were too large. Independent candidates found
it extremely difficult to campaign across, or put up the �5,000 deposits
to run. All the elections have done, is preserve the politicisation of
the police force.

Regards
Joe Egginton.

Dave Cornwell

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Nov 18, 2012, 5:09:05 PM11/18/12

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No doubt posted in error Joe but I agree to some extent although I am
uneasy with one person having so much power/responsibility, elected or not.
Democrat though I am, I would prefer a small group of professional
experts rather than some "Joe" who fancies a go at being Mr. Big of the
Police.
Dave

Dave Liquorice

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Nov 18, 2012, 5:38:35 PM11/18/12

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On Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:55:36 +0000, Joe Egginton wrote:

> How can Bob Jones have a mandate when only one in twenty people voted
> for him?

You can apply that to the entire electoral system from Prime Minister and
central government down.

I certainly agree that party sponsered candidates is not good, even if they
are swear neutrality when taking office. There might not be direct political
control but there will be a bias simply by the views held by them. All a bit
to much like "Maggies Army" for my likeing.

--
Cheers Dave.
Nr Garrigill, Cumbria. 421m ASL.

Graham P Davis

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Nov 18, 2012, 5:44:24 PM11/18/12

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Ditto.
Here's another possible line of action -
http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/s/police-and-crime-commissioner-elections-never-again

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks.
Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana. [Marx]

Hugh Newbury

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Nov 19, 2012, 3:33:16 AM11/19/12

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On 18/11/12 21:55, Joe Egginton wrote:

...

Anyone know what the police themselves thought of the idea and voted
for/against it?

Hugh

--

Hugh Newbury

www.evershot-weather.org

Howard Neil

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Nov 19, 2012, 4:35:10 AM11/19/12

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On 19/11/2012 08:33, Hugh Newbury wrote:
> On 18/11/12 21:55, Joe Egginton wrote:
>
> ...
>
> Anyone know what the police themselves thought of the idea and voted
> for/against it?
>
> Hugh
>

I have a pretty good idea. I am a retired police officer and I currently
moderate a police forum.

Usually you will find lots of different viewpoints within the police
service. However, just recently there have been a few issues which have
met with a unified response. This is one of them.

The role of the PCCs is already carried out by every force. There is no
need for someone else to come in and do the same job. It makes it even
worse when that person exhibits a total lack of understanding about the
role of police. It then gets worse still when that person represents a
political party.

Basically, PCCs are not welcome. They will do nothing to cut crime and
cost a fortune of our money. Police officers used to be pretty solid
Conservative voters. You will be hard pushed to find an officer voting
Conservative today.

Oh, and my forecast for the Brecon Beacons today is wet and windy, just
like Cameron and May. ;-)

--
Howard Neil
Western end of the Brecon Beacons National Park at 235 metres asl

Hugh Newbury

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Nov 19, 2012, 5:40:05 AM11/19/12

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Howard, thanks for that. I had a suspicion it might be like you say.

Dave Cornwell

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Nov 20, 2012, 12:17:30 PM11/20/12

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Indeed and it is clearly impossible for one person to do anything
without a big back up team so up goes the cost anyway. Then what is the
difference to the existing Policw Authority other than the figure head
is elected.