Monthly Archives: February 2012

TopOfTheCops elections – Who pays the piper?

Posted on 22/02/2012 by samchapman

Is it me, or is John Prescott everywhere at the minute? You don’t seem to be able to turn on a news programme, open a paper, or even take refuge on a desert island without bumping into him. Can he … Continue reading →

Posted in Campaigns, Conservatives, Labour, Media coverage, Selecting Candidates | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Many Thanks

Posted on 21/02/2012 by samchapman

Thanks to Douglas Carswell MP, tireless defender of Parliamentary sovereignty and father of what has become the elected Police and Crime Commissioner for encouraging his 6,000+ Twitter followers to follow this site, and listing us on his roll of favourite … Continue reading →

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Leicestershire Candidates for TopOfTheCops consider cuts to PCSOs

Posted on 21/02/2012 by samchapman

Until recently, the race for PCC in Leicestershire was limited to two people, but as of yesterday the race has heated up with the Leicester Mercury naming 6 more candidates for the post.

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Are you now or have you ever been a Tory?

Posted on 19/02/2012 by samchapman

In the United States in the 1940’s, just before McCarthyism got in to full swing, the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities achieved fame when investigating Hollywood, with the memorable question “Are you now or have you ever been … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Independents, Labour, Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Operational Independence and PCCs

Posted on 19/02/2012 by samchapman

Keith Hunter gives his personal perspective on operational independence, based on his experiences as a senior police officer in Humberside, where he hopes to be the Labour candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner. If you have a perspective to share … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour, Perspectives | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Hashtag Question

Posted on 18/02/2012 by samchapman

When ‘Direct Democracy‘ first appeared in 2002, proposing what was eventually to become Police and Crime Commissioners there was no such thing as Twitter, but even without a 140-character limit the group managed to settle on a title for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Resources | Tagged , | 4 Comments

An exercise in presumption – the Local Government Association attempts to annexe policing

Posted on 16/02/2012 by samchapman

Remember Herod? Jewish King in Judea? Didn’t fancy the competition from the “King of the Jews” and so was all nicey-nicey with the visiting wise men before ordering all the kids to be killed? Yeah, that one. Well, the Local … Continue reading →

Posted in Resources | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

In praise of political parties

Posted on 16/02/2012 by samchapman

Paul Richards, Labour hopeful for TopOfTheCops in Sussex has published a brave article on LabourList arguing that Independents are not all they are cracked up to be, and that political parties are in a sense inevitable and useful. Check it … Continue reading →

Posted in Independents | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Vera Baird tests the waters against Labour rivals in Northumbria

Posted on 16/02/2012 by samchapman

The Journal reports that former Solicitor-General Vera Baird has floated the possibility of her running for Police and Crime Commissioner in Northumbria. This fits the pattern of other former Ministers who have tested the waters with rumours before announcing they … Continue reading →

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Prescott v Brain – truth is the casualty as Prescott retreats

Posted on 15/02/2012 by samchapman

Lord Prescott appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning (listen here), and mentioned that the Policing Protocol meant Commissioners shouldn’t fetter a Chief Constable’s operational independence. The Guardian’s account is here. The Telegraph has comments here. The discussion around … Continue reading →

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