Total Politics on Police Commissioners

Posted on 06/02/2012 by samchapman

November’s Total Politics article on Police Commissioners and public polling, by Andrew Hawkins of ComRes, is now online.

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Les Byrom joins former Ministers in the race to be Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner

Posted on 06/02/2012 by samchapman

The addition today of former Conservative Councillor Les Byrom CBE makes a total of 3 contenders for Labour in the Merseyside contest for Police and Crime Commissioner. The full list is:-

Jane Kennedy (former minister) was rumoured to be standing by Michael Crick, and has since confirmed this to Liverpool papers – Daily Post and Echo.

Peter Kilfoyle (former minister) is also actively considering it, according to Michael Crick

Sefton Councillor Les Byrom CBE, who was a Conservative Councillor for over 20 years, including a period as national Chairman of the Fire Service, before defecting in 2008, has told the Formby Times he wants the Labour nomination. For a Labour Councillor he sounds quite positive about the new post – “The new Commissioner post is an opportunity to break from the old committee based system and to have strong expert leadership in crime reduction within the police and all its partners. It leaves the police to do the job they are qualified to do.”

No independents or candidates for other parties have yet emerged.

Merseyside Police Authority have some limited information on their website about the Police and Crime Commissioner post.

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Departing Chief Constable runs for Labour in South Yorkshire

Posted on 06/02/2012 by samchapman

Today BBC Sheffield reports that Meredydd Hughes, who only stood down as Chief Constable of South Yorkshire a few months ago, would seek the Labour nomination for Police and Crime Commissioner there. See here for TOTC analysis.

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PCC race is on in Dorset

Posted on 05/02/2012 by samchapman

Up till yesterday, the people of Dorset had no clue who they would have to choose from as Police and Crime Commissioner later this year. Today that all changed as The Bournemouth Echo put the following names in the frame as potential candidates for Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner:-

Nick King, a Conservative councillor for Bournemouth and member of the Dorset Police Authority.

Cllr Angus Campbell, Leader of Dorset County Council (Conservative).

Cllr Janet Dover, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Dorset County Council, said she would consider standing for the role if asked, but adds “at this moment in time I have not been asked and I may not ever be.”

Bournemouth Cllr David Smith and former Poole councillor Don Collier also ruled themselves out. Former Chief Constable Jane Stichbury has been suggested as an independent candidate, but there is no confirmation of this.

Dorset Police Authority have a page on their site for anyone interested.

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Where are all the candidates for Police and Crime Commissioner?

Posted on 05/02/2012 by samchapman

Ribble Valley businessman Kevin Horkin has demanded that candidates for the Police and Crime Commissioner posts should declare themselves now. Councillor Horkin is frustrated that he is the only candidate in Lancashire to declare himself to be in the running, although three other potential Conservative candidates have been identified in local newspapers, including the editor of this site!

Continue reading →

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The Economist considers the future for policing reform

Posted on 03/02/2012 by samchapman

The Economist calls policing the last unreformed public service, but it’s all about to change. Apparently policing could be at the front of the pack in just 18 months.
What do you think? Is this well-meaning tinkering or historic reform?

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When will they, will they be famous?

Posted on 03/02/2012 by samchapman

It really is like a pregnancy – and it looks like some parents won’t be announcing they are expecting until after that difficult first 13 weeks.

This report suggests that the Conservative candidacy in Norfolk is likely to be resolved by a series of open public meetings in May and June – sometimes called Open Primaries – technically a caucus – a real primary election of sorts is still an option.

This enables the parties to campaign one election at a time, as there are local government elections in May. Normally there are 12 months between elections, and this election may need more than 6 months to sink into the hearts and minds of voters.

Also, the official candidates will just be getting into their stride when the silly season starts.

What do you think – Is May too late? Will it be a long hot summer? Comment below.

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Race to be TopOfTheCops in Gwent shapes up

Posted on 03/02/2012 by samchapman

Hamish Sandison is seeking the Labour nomination, and seems to have the backing of a substantial amount of the Welsh Labour establishment.

Campaign reports that Chris Wright, a retired Patrol Sergeant from Gwent, is also running, but does not name a party preference for him.

Former Labour Minister and now Plaid Cymru Councillor Ron Davies is also mentioned as interested in the job.

Gwent Police Authority have a Police and Crime Commissioner section to their website, with information for candidates.

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Conservative ‘primary’ in Avon and Somerset

Posted on 02/02/2012 by samchapman

This is Bristol reports that the city’s Conservatives are thinking of choosing candidates by means of an ‘open primary’ – a meeting whereby voters get to come and listen to the contenders. Actually that’s not a primary at all – us political anoraks know that this is a ‘caucus’, and that a ‘primary’ is like a regular election, sometimes a postal one, which involves lots of people and costs an absolute fortune (though by involving the electorate in this decision, can give your candidate a bit of an edge in the real election).

Anyway, if anyone can vote, how do you stop the other parties from sending their own folk round and voting for the worst candidate?

How should parties choose their representatives? Let us know in the comments.

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Peter Walker fires first shot of the North Yorkshire campaign

Posted on 02/02/2012 by samchapman

Former Deputy Chief Constable Peter Walker looks to have launched his campaign on ConservativeHome, although he has also already established a website. Mr Walker criticises the size of the Force’s HR Department, and the recruitment of an extra Assistant Chief Constable in his article, and proposes a strong Performance Management System. This raises the question, with Chief Constables keen to maintain as much of their “direction and control” as possible, whether these points stray beyond strategic direction and accountability and into the Chief Constable’s domain. Continue reading →

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