Candidate Statement of Matt Bennett

Posted on 12/06/2012 by samchapman

Matt Bennett is seeking the Conservative nomination to be the Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands. If you are intending to stand to be Police and Crime Commissioner where you live, you can submit your own Candidate Statement, so get in touch. Others are on the way, and we are looking for 400 words, a photo of you that you have rights to, and preferably an imprint, which will be needed for the formal election period later this year.

I am proud to be putting my name forward to be the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands. I have long been a supporter of the reform which introduced this position, as in my view there is an accountability gap between the Police and the public. If I am elected my overriding aim will be to ensure that the Police’s priorities are the same as those of the public. My track record as a former Birmingham City Councillor means that I am well placed to make a positive difference to policing in the West Midlands.

I have great experience of working with the police at neighbourhood level, as a Councillor in Stockland Green, a diverse and relatively deprived ward where the crime rate was going up for some time, bucking the local and national trend. Through close working with the Police and the local community I helped achieve a reduction in crime, by focusing on hotspots and cracking down on street drinking and low level ASB.

As Executive Member for Children’s Social Care I oversaw a major programme of change in children’s social services to turn around a service which had been failing for many years. As part of these changes I worked with the Police, where I encouraged closer working on child protection issues, establishing the first Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub in the city, where Police and social workers are based side by side.

All we really want from the police is to know that they are there when we need them and that they will deal with crime quickly and effectively, keeping us informed at all times. However, too many crimes go unreported because people don’t think it will achieve anything – that is not good enough. If elected I will:

  • Send out a clear message that no crime, big or small, is acceptable and direct resources towards crime and ASB hotspots so that a zero tolerance approach can be taken
  • Set out the areas where tough action would be expected and making officers accountable to me personally for taking that action
  • Improving the police’s “customer care”. I want the public to have a clear idea of what to expect when they report a crime and of their rights as victims
  • Work closely with ethnic minority communities to help them build bridges with the police – there currently exists a culture of mistrust and a reluctance to report crimes directly
  • Hold regular meetings with the public where local issue can be discussed – at least one per constituency per year
  • Ensure the Police make strong objections to new alcohol licences where there are clear links between number of licensed premises and increases in crime and street drinking

 

Posted in Candidate Statements, Conservatives | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Remember, remember the 15th of November

Posted on 11/06/2012 by samchapman

 

 

Further evidence that it’s all happening in Lancashire, and the rest of you are just hoping one day you’ll catch up.

I wonder what it cost.

P.S. I don’t know what I like more, this video, or the fact that, when you have watched it, YouTube then lists Related Videos from the Lancashire HotPots, such as ‘cottaging’ and ‘chavs’ – what a politically incorrect choice!

 

Posted in Resources | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

More briefings

Posted on 11/06/2012 by samchapman

Alright, alright, there are other free briefing events other than the one put on by Crest Advisory (26 June, Tavistock Square, London) although the Crest one is the only one with me in it, so why you would even bother…

You might, for example, want to register for the Policy Exchange event on 19 June about the Impact of PCCs on the policing landscape (at Deloitte, 2 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3BZ). It’s not just for Prospective PCCs and lunch is provided but places are limited. (Why do I get the feeling it is going to be full of cops now I’ve pointed out the free lunch?)

My fans at the Local Government Association have slipped a day of PCC related stuff (28 June) into their annual conference at the ICC in Birmingham, and prospective PCCs can attend the whole conference for free, though my invite said I should reply by 11 June, so you might want to get a move on and email adam.pokun@local.gov.uk . Given that a place at the LGA conference costs between £495 and £640, if you were thinking of going anyway it might be worth developing an intention to stand as a PCC just for the saving. If you are a Councillor who is intending to stand for PCC and your Council is paying for you to attend, you probably need your head checked.

The Association of Police Authorities, in the guise of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, are putting on a briefing day at 29 June at NPIA Ryton, near Coventry.

So, a little geographic diversity there – though nothing in Manchester yet. Oh, the ACPO event was in Manchester, but it was the only one of the five that PCCs had to pay to go to. Whatever they say, ACPO aren’t short of a few coppers…

Full marks to Ian Chisnall for recognising in the comments section here that three of the four all happen in the same week, and he seeks more coordination. Given they happen in the same week however, it’s close to miraculous that no two end up on the same day.

And before all you suspicious sorts start asking questions, not one of them has given me a penny for this free publicity. Nor did ACPO. I do it for love!

 

Posted in Resources | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Are You Disqualified From Being Top Of The Cops?

Posted on 09/06/2012 by samchapman

I’ve now had a second issue of the Blackburn with Darwen Messenger freesheet containing an article from Tony Johnson about his bid to be Lancashire Police And Crime Commissioner, but it’s unlikely this pleasure will be repeated. Mr Johnson is withdrawing from the race after learning that anyone convicted of an imprisonable offence cannot even stand for the election. Some years ago Mr Johnson says he acquired 2 convictions for drink driving, and is therefore ineligible to stand.

Well, at least he found out relatively early. There may be other candidates out there who haven’t made a point of reading the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 that created the post. I suppose some at least will be unfamiliar with finding, reading and interpreting Acts of Parliament and statutory instruments themselves, which raises the question of whether other ‘candidates’ are disqualified from standing without knowing it.

So, please note that you cannot stand for Police and Crime Commissioner if:-

  • You’re not 18 by the day you are nominated in October, or you’re not on the electoral register in that area on that day, or you are nominated as a candidate in another area (section 64)
  • You are a police officer (including special constables) or are a member of police staff, or work for the police or police authority through a contract the police have with your employer. ( Section 65)
  • You are a judge, civil servant or member of the armed forces who would be disqualified from standing for Parliament, or you are anyone who is subject to a debt relief restrictions order or bankruptcy order, (section 66)
  • You have ever been convicted of an offence which could result in a term of imprisonment if an adult was convicted of it (unless the conviction has been quashed or is under review). Note that you don’t have to have gone to prison, or for it to be possible for you to have gone to prison for that offence (if you were convicted for example when you were young), and there don’t seem to be any provisions that allow convictions to become spent after a period of time. (No mention of cautions, reprimands, final warnings, etc. as being a problem, though. Of course, if one of those comes to light, it probably won’t look good in the newspapers)
  • You are a member of staff at a Council (except teachers), including County, Borough and parish councils (note that, as with police staff, even if you are not in a politically restricted post, you still can’t stand for this election). Councillors are allowed to stand, unless they are members of the police authority, who can’t. A wave of resignations from police authorities should be expected between now and the elections.

Please note, I’m not offering you legal advice, and the list above is not exhaustive. If you want to know whether you qualify either read the law yourself, or get a good lawyer who can do it for you.

Now, however you read it, that’s an awful lot of people who cannot stand, including people who usually can stand for other elections. While the Police Area Returning Officer will be able to check some of these things, will they be able to check a candidate’s criminal record? Will a statement from a candidate be enough, or will anyone actually be responsible for checking to ensure a candidate is not disqualified by virtue of, for example, their criminal record?

All this raises another thorny issue. Even if there were a dismal turnout at these elections, the size of the electorates and the supplementary voting system will ensure that each Police and Crime Commissioner automatically becomes the politician in their area with the largest personal mandate, albeit a fairly focussed one, more than MPs, and far more than Council leaders. You can see why it might be tempting to people who otherwise know next to nothing about it, and who previously showed little interest in police and crime matters.

If people are not reading the legislation, or lack the skills to understand it, what else do they not appreciate about the job?

 

Posted in Perspectives | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Free Bespoke Training Day for Prospective PCCs

Posted on 09/06/2012 by samchapman

You’ll remember that TopOfTheCops has frequently been sceptical about the approaches of the Local Government Association and the Association of Police Authorities in their attempts to provide support and national representation for PCCs. The scepticism has flowed from the more-grudging-than-Damascene conversions of these organisations from ‘PCCs must be stopped’ to ‘now we have to have them, can they provide our livelihoods’.

This is particularly the case with the Local Government Association. Their rivals in the Association of Police Authorities are at least doing a similar job at the moment, have been commissioned by the Home Office to provide representation on national bodies, and are not running around pretending that they are ‘the’ national representative body for PCCs. The LGA are however engaged in that very pretence.

Both organisations are currently offering training/briefing for candidates, which will bolster the organisations hoped-for future roles as support structures for PCCs. All that is well and good. It is perfectly fine for organisations to offer support in an attempt to build relationships with prospective PCCs, which may prove valuable to both parties later, as long as everyone realises that is what is happening. But the organisations established by various arms of the state are not the only way of doing that, and a bit of extra choice and competition may encourage everyone to raise their game, particularly while the risk remains that the APA and LGA may yet bury their differences and remove the only other appearance of choice.

That’s why I’ve decided to support the briefing day run by Crest Advisory. Uniquely among the three organisations offering support, the folk at Crest Advisory have actually been supportive of the role of PCC since before it was proposed, so that’s a welcome bit of variety. They are also a commercial organisation. They are hoping to build a business, and that is clear from the start. I like the simplicity and honesty of this. I know what they are getting from it. With the LGA, there seems also to be an attempt to derive some sustenance from PCC’s mandate.

The event takes place in Crest’s offices in Tavistock Square, London, (WC1H 9LS – 5 minutes walk from Euston) on 26th June 2012, is aimed at prospective PCCs at various stages in the selection or election process, and involves input from senior politicians on a cross-party basis, experts in policing, campaigns and elections, and, er, me.

To register for your free place or to ask for more information please email contact@crestadvisory.com

AGENDA

09.30 am: Registration begins

10.00 am: Introductory remarks by event chair, Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, member of the Intelligence and Security Committee

10.15 am: Keynote address: The ambition for PCCs

Rt. Hon. Nick Herbert MP, Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice

11.00 am: Audience discussion

SESSION 1: CAMPAIGNING

11.45 am: Running an effective campaign and developing policy

James O’Shaughnessy, Downing Street’s former Director of Policy

12.15 pm: How to use evidence to determine effective policy

Professor Martin Innes, University Police Science Institute (http://www.upsi.org.uk/)

12.45 pm: Legal requirements for PCC elections

Ros Baston, political and electoral regulation expert, former lead adviser on party and election finance at the Electoral Commission

1.00 pm: Sandwich lunch

SESSION 2: DELIVERING

1.30 pm: PCC powers and partnership working, chaired by Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP.

Contributions:

– Lord Gordon Wasserman, Government Adviser on Policing and Criminal Justice

– Prospective PCCs, including Sam Chapman, Editor of the Top of the Cops website

– Andrew Morley, Chief Executive at the London Criminal Justice Partnership

3pm: Assessing the performance of a police force

Sir Denis O’Connor, CBE, QPM, Chief Inspector of Constabulary

4.15 pm: What to do when things go wrong

Panel discussion with:

– Sean O’Neill, The Times’ Crime Editor

– Victor Marshall, Former advisor to the Home Office on Police complaints

4.45 pm: Round up

Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP

Posted in Resources | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

After the hype

Posted on 07/06/2012 by samchapman

Yesterday we covered the, well, jubilation that followed the apparent discovery of a chief police officer who was prepared to say that the government were cutting police on the streets and this was driving up crime.

Well, unsurprisingly, all is not what it seems. Today there was an article on Police Oracle that appeared to row back from the reported comments.

Instead of an ‘inevitable’ rise in crime there is ‘could be affecting the crime rate’.

Instead of ‘513 officers off the streets’ we have ‘the loss of officers’.

There is recognition of the point made here yesterday – ‘the figures are only a reflection of one month’.

Other possible reasons for crime rising in that month are given – ‘there is evidence that people are struggling to get offenders remanded’. There are ‘clearly other pressures’ like ‘socio-economic factors’.

The ‘reduction in officer numbers “may be a contributing factor”‘.

I hold no brief for or against the Acting Chief. I’ve known of him for about 20 years, since he was a high-flying Inspector, but despite us both working in crime reduction in different parts of the same county for much of that time, our paths have not really crossed. I’m told by Lancashire Police that his comments were certainly not political, and that he is disappointed that they have been reported this way.

I have to say that I sympathise with him. I’ve frequently been in a similar position, having to put forward reasons to explain changes to crime figures, and perhaps that is why I believe today’s softer approach is closer to the intended meaning. When people see a little red on a chart they look for an explanation, and whatever is offered, often on a speculative or tentative basis, can be seized on as the explanation, and as we saw yesterday, turned to political ends with greater certainty than originally was asserted.

There will be more to come on this. I hope it is not too dull for people outside Lancashire, but the Acting Chief was merely the first unfortunate to say something close enough to what some people wanted him to say. The answers to the questions I sent last week are awaiting approval, so I hope to bring you a few concluding points soon. In the meantime though, congratulations to TopOfTheCops readers for the quality of comments on yesterday’s article.

 

Posted in Perspectives | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Oh dear!

Posted on 07/06/2012 by samchapman

I knew it would go wrong the moment I heard it. “We have taken 513 police officers off the streets.”

It was at the Lancashire Police Authority Meeting last week, where the Acting Chief Constable was running through the latest crime figures, and having given the fairly good 12-month comparison had decided to release a comparison of the one single month that had finished in this year, which was less good, leading to the speculation as to why that might be.

I was sitting in what I will call the spectators’ section, and my senses may have been heightened by the presence of the local reporter who had taken a seat just in front of me, as his pen jumped to life, matching the actions of several round the table, which included two-thirds of the local Labour PCC shortlist.

The Jubilee weekend would keep the story away from the front cover till today but, as you can see, not forever. And then a tweet or two and the help of the Press Association, and before you know it, it is being quoted by the Shadow Policing Minister, and transformed in no less an organ than the Telegraph to say “Burglary and violent crime is rising in some parts of the country because of the swingeing cuts in police numbers, a police chief has warned.“

Surprisingly, what didn’t make the story was his anecdote about people shoplifting meat, bread and cheese and how this was “a commentary on social pressures”, so that one member of the authority expressed a concern that they wouldn’t like to see the criminalisation of people committing crime out of necessity. Perhaps reporting all that would have made the meeting sound less like a Police Authority meeting and more like a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the bleeding-heart-liberal party?

My mind went in several directions, to half remembered scenes from films depicting harsh punishment of starving French peasants, to my undergraduate self reading All England reports stamped ‘from the library of Mr Justice Diplock’ as I tried to understand what was required to fulfil the demands of the legal defence of ‘necessity” or ‘duress of circumstance’. But mostly what filled my mind was the thought “Oh dear!” as, whether intentionally or otherwise, the Acting Chief had become the pin-up of every wannabe Labour Police and Crime Commissioner in the country, including tacit endorsement of the campaign slogan of one sitting opposite him.

And they say policing is not political.

You may imagine that last week a whole host of requests for clarification found their way from yours truly to the Constabulary, and when that information is received, I will be sure to give you the highlights. Suffice it to say for now that the varying levels of crime, whether that variance is up or down, is neither neatly or solely related to the number of cops there are, and there are some categories of crime that should increase if the police are doing a good job (see the third bullet here).

There was a time when I would have been concerned about the impact that this would have had on fear of crime locally. This was before I realised that most people only believe crime figures when they are rising, and that how they feel about the level of crime is little to do with what is reported at a Police Authority meeting.

It was a shame though about the soundbite. I feel the real news at the meeting was missed – that after years of never doing it, the Authority had trained a number of members in how to handle pension forfeiture cases, as a number were expected before November. Now there’s a story.

 

Posted in Perspectives | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Matt Taylor responds to questions

Posted on 05/06/2012 by samchapman

Matt Taylor is hoping to stand for the S.O.S. party for Police and Crime Commissioner in Sussex. After his Candidate Statement was featured a few days ago, some TopOfTheCops readers raised some queries which were included in this article. Mr Taylor has issued the below response. With regard to other points about the use of logos, he says he will “remove any graphics from my campaign site, namely logos etc, if the interested parties contact me with their complaints. I intend to run a clean campaign which doesn’t harm or discredit anyone’s else. I may make a few mistakes along the way, but any mistakes will be quickly addressed and resolved.“

Her Majesty has referred my letter to Theresa May, the Home Secretary and I’m awaiting a reply.

I’ve also written to Nick Herbert MP and Kenneth Clarke QC MP of the Justice Ministry to clarify whether I qualify to stand as a Police and Crime Commissioner.

The facts remain that I have never specifically been convicted for an imprisonable offence. A CRB check dated 2003 shows a clear criminal record.

I’m confused about where I stand as much as anyone else!

This is why other than, The Queen, Theresa May, Nick Herbert MP and Kenneth Clarke QC MP, I have also contacted Brig Edward Forster-Knight OBE (Provost Marshall of the Royal Military Police) to clarify the situation.

Further-more I have contacted the European Court of Human Rights and CCRC and await replies.

I won’t be handing over 100 signatures and a £5000 deposit until I have official confirmation. And let me assure you, I will notify all interested parties as to the answer, whether positive or negative.

On the subject of David Joe Nielson, we have spoken about our respective campaigns and acknowledge the similarities. It is with this in mind we are in discussions to form an independent coalition to fight the election.

Again, once I know more TopOfTheCops.com will be the first to know.

I hope this answers your readers questions and may I thank them for taking interest and seeking clarification.

I remain confident of standing as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex in the 15thNovember 2012.

Thank you…

Matt Taylor

www.sosparty.co.uk

 

Posted in Candidate Statements, Independents | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Looking at the wrong end of the lead’, by Peter Walker

Posted on 04/06/2012 by samchapman

Peter Walker is seeking the Conservative nomination for Police and Crime Commissioner for the City of York and North Yorkshire.

Press coverage of suggestions that Cambridgeshire and other Police Forces may engage G4S to undertake the duties of Dog Handlers – presently undertaken by Police Officers – have received a predictable reaction from rank-and-file Officers.

My views on the tender document issued by the West Midlands and Surrey Police Authorities (which North Yorkshire’s Authority has joined in this regard) seeking providers of everything from Neighbourhood Patrol to Major Incident Investigation were made some weeks ago.

On this occasion, there is a point that may have been overlooked by those who are seeking to use this solution as a means of achieving financial savings.

The partnership of human and dog is one that has provided benefits in the law enforcement arena for decades. It is fair to say that this partnership can be achieved quite simply. Once the dog has been trained to undertake the task required, whether it is to search for explosives or track a fugitive, all it needs is a handler (the human). The human may be employed by anybody. Whether the employer is a Police Service or a security company makes no difference.

What does make a difference, however, is what the human can do apart from look after a dog.See more…..

Posted in Conservatives, Perspectives | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An apology

Posted on 03/06/2012 by samchapman

Those of you who have studied Classics, New Testament Greek, or indeed English, will know that an ‘apology’ isn’t always something that conveys sorrow, regret or remorse. An apology can be a defence, hence the term ‘apologist’ for a person who defends a particular person or point of view.

My defence of the information disclosed below is the context of all the stuff I decided not to tell you in the last week. When I started this site, it was a way of putting my interest in this election to good use. I was going to find out what was happening and as the internet is at its best as a collaborative effort, it seemed to be worth a little extra work on my behalf writing it down, to save you the effort of seeking it out.

Without intending it, I now find that interest has grown sufficiently for information to begin coming to me. However, I don’t think all of it is fit for sharing. Some may be malicious, or irrelevant, or both, so I am not afraid of moderating the comments section quite strongly. I feel for the candidates, possibly because I am one. They have taken the risk of public embarassment in order to engage in democracy, so I don’t want to treat them badly. In the last week I’ve had…

  • An earlier version of this story, where Jan Berry’s candidacy in Kent was allegedly helped along by her brother, except the story quite clearly confirms what I took the trouble to find out – that the interest was properly declared, and nothing improper seems to have gone on. It is only reported here now because it is in the public domain.
  • An allegation of police investigating a PCC candidate on suspicion of a criminal offence. At best, it is sub judice. At worst, an abuse of the legal process, possibly for political ends. Sorry, I don’t know which, so I’m not telling.
  • Allegations about another candidate’s private life. Not reported here as I’m not sure it’s relevant to the question of whether they are the best person for the job.

So, on to the stuff that is relevant:-

  1. A few days ago the site featured a Candidate Statement from Matt Taylor of the SOS party, a one-man political party in Sussex. Digging by TopOfTheCops readers revealed this on another site, where Taylor appears to reveal a past conviction, albeit with mitigation, which could render him ineligible to stand in the election.
  2. Also of note is the striking similarity between Taylor’s policies and those of a David Joe Neilson who also appears to be standing in Sussex. Something peculiar is afoot! These points have been put to Taylor, who has responded since this article was first published.
  3. Clive Grunshaw…

I know! I know! You’re right. I have brought County Councillor Grunshaw to your attention before.

  • It may have been the incorrect claim that he was Chair of the Police Authority that he had on his County Council website (they’ve since chosen a new non-Clive chairman by the way).
  • It may have been the controversial decision to send out a personal mailshot for a distant PCC selection when everyone else in the Labour party was working feverishly in the last few days of a critical local election campaign.
  • It may have been the astonishing silence from a PCC candidate on a key crime and disorder issue in Lancashire when his colleagues in Preston City Council cut live monitoring of city centre CCTV to save what earth-shattering sum? £10,000.
  • It may have been the time he used the Council’s letterhead and stamps to promote his personal political opinions and, when found in breach of the code of conduct and told to apologise, was by his own admission “somewhat sarcastic”.
  • It may have been his decision to lament rising reports of domestic violence in Lancashire as ‘unacceptable’ when it is actually better for us to have more of these massively under-reported offences coming to light.

“What’s he done now?”

Don’t take it from me – take it from the Labour Party…

“I am emailing following a recent leaflet from Clive Grunshaw sent to Lancashire members. The leaflet was the cause of a number of complaints. As it contains disparaging remarks about the other two candidates both candidates have been given the opportunity to email members with a statement on the matter. These statements are below. Clive has apologised to the other two candidates and his apology has been accepted.

Anna Hutchinson Regional Director

Mark Atkinson

“Negative campaigning should play no part in an internal Labour Party selection. To do so is inconsistent with the values of the Labour Party and frankly it’s not the Lancashire way.

Lancashire is where I was born and bred. It’s where I went to Primary and Secondary School. It’s where my family have lived for generations and it’s the county in which I was married. I am proud to call Lancashire my home and reject any suggestion that I am not local.

I would urge members to judge candidates on their merits rather than on the negative and inaccurate assertions that have been made.”

Ibrahim Master

“I have been an active member of the Labour Party for the past 20 years and, in that time, have campaigned for many candidates in both local and national elections. I’m proud of the support that I have received in this campaign from major national Labour Party figures such as Jack Straw and Keith Vaz and this is both a clear endorsement of my contribution to the Labour Party over the years and an indication that they believe that I can win the forthcoming Lancashire Police Crime and Commissioner elections for Labour. Recently, confusing remarks have been made about my Labour Party record. This kind of behaviour is not in the spirit of an internal election. It is not fair to either the candidates or to Labour Party members who need the correct information to help them make an informed choice that will benefit the whole Labour Party by ensuring that the best candidate is chosen as its representative at the future election. I would simply ask that you judge me on my record”.

I sent Clive some questions about this, but he has not yet responded.

Clive Grunshaw is a Labour candidate in Lancashire, my very own neck of the woods, and I can feel your suspicion that I have an interest in all this, but ask yourself these questions.

  • If I hinder one of Labour’s three shortlisted candidates, do I not help the other two?
  • Can I fail to tell you this?
  • Are Lancashire Labour about to elect a candidate who can’t even keep to his own party’s rules for how to run an election?
  • Is it my fault that he is the gift that keeps on giving?

I don’t want to be partial, but in the Lancashire Labour PCC contest I’m starting to root for Clive. He seems to be the best Labour candidate to stand against.

 

Posted in Perspectives, Updates | Tagged , , | 3 Comments