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 were running.
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 operational issues was still a bit muddy, and he was not pressed on his comments to the Independent, but instead accepted as the likely Labour candidate in Humberside, even though the selection process has not yet begun.
The Conservative’s flagship policing reform of elected Police and Crime Commissioners has been resisted by police authorities, police staff associations and politicians across the political spectrum. There are worries about politicising policing, interference with Chief Constables’ operational independence, and mandates undermined by low turnout in November elections that the public don’t know about.
Then along came Lord Prescott, who has decided that his contribution to public life is not to be limited to memoirs and the House of Lords, but that he should be Top Of The Cops in Humberside at an age (74 by election time) 4 years beyond the compulsory retirement age for judges.
Paul Richards gives his view on developments in Sussex, where he hopes to be the Labour candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner. If you have a perspective to share on TopOfTheCops.com let us know.
The British National Party (BNP) is planning to stand a candidate in Sussex for the newly-created police commissioner job. If the BNP candidate was elected, it would be a disaster for community relations, and risk serious public disorder in Brighton and throughout Sussex, says one of the leading candidates for the post. I am seeking the Labour nomination to be a police commissioner candidate in Sussex. At the heart of my campaign is the stark warning that unless people in Sussex turn out to vote, the BNP might sneak in through the back door.
I have conducted an analysis of BNP websites in Sussex. It shows that:
The Liverpool Echo’s David Bartlett today reveals concern within Labour ranks that Police and Crime Commissioner nominations are sewn up by ex-Ministers with a sense of entitlement. The complaint comes from John Ashton, the former North West Regional Director of Public Health, and now director of public health for Cumbria, who said many like himself were interested in standing but found the process is sewn up by ex-ministers. As a Merseyside resident the people he may have in mind are ex-ministers Jane Kennedy and Peter Kilfoyle, who are in the running for the Labour TopOfTheCops nomination for Merseyside.
Keith Hunter is seeking the Labour nomination to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside. 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 have a record of success in crime and anti-social behaviour reduction, improving confidence and challenging those who stand in the way of improvement, all delivered in the Humberside area.
Total Politics have another article on Police and Crime Commissioners (hat-tip Paul Richards) now online. This one covers the challenges for candidates during the election campaign.
Today sees the launch of Ian Chisnall‘s campaign, as an Independent, to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, with this Candidate Statement exclusively for TopOfTheCops.com and launch events later in the day at Brighton, Uckfield and Horsham – Visit Ian Chisnall’s Website for further details. 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 have lived in Brighton & Hove for nearly 35 years and worked throughout East and West Sussex for nearly 30 years. My role since 2001 has involved working with community organisations in most of the villages and towns of Sussex creating links between these groups and statutory agencies such as Local Authorities, Health Trusts and the Police. I have also worked extensively within the Voluntary and Community Sector including helping to establish a number of charities working in the area of criminal justice.
Today The Record reports the case of John Geates, Director of the Scottish Police College, under the title of “Top cop retires and pockets £300k lump sum but is back at desk the next day”. Mr Geates post was civilianised at just the right time for him, it appears, but there is controversy over whether anyone else got a shot at the job.
While the case is different, it still shows what may be ahead for Top Cops who wish to return as Police and Crime Commissioners, as well as other candidates drawing a pension from another part of the public purse.
Territorial Army officer Mike Caseman-Jones has submitted his application to be a candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in Northamptonshire.
Lt Colonel Caseman-Jones TD confirmed the news in a tweet to the 7 followers in his nascent campaign on 10 February.
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