they ought to have barred political parties from sponsoring candidates

Here (Avon & Somerset) we have the usual Lab/Lib/Con triumvirate with one independent.

So if I don't want party politics to come into play, then I have one candidate - who happens to be an ex magistrate and member of the Police Authority so hardly seems like a 'fresh of breath air' candidate (I may be doing her a disservice, but as I've had bugger all election literature through all I can go on is first impressions).

Of the other candidates, we have an ex High Sheriff of Bristol, an ex Council leader, and another member of the Police Authority. No-one seems to be campaigning on anything other than their party's current national policy, and I really am loathe to have some career local politician/bigwig creaming off yet another highly paid sinecure.

The political parties seem to have put up their local grandees rather than anyone with genuine fresh ideas, or even people that on paper look remotely like they'll hold the police democratically to account. They all carry the taint of being part of the same rotten system of local public office.

It doesn't help that they are making campaign promises to change things that only Parliament can do - and that some (specificallyLabour) are campaigning on the platform of tackiling Coalition policies and cuts. THATS NOT WHAT YOUR ROLE IS ABOUT! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HOLDING THE POLICE TO ACCOUNT AND SHAPING LOCAL POLICING - NOT MITHERING OVER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT POLICY.

I have a horrible feeling that these roles will become a damp squib - and at ?100k per annum (plus pension, plus overheads and hangers on) it's a post that's a bloody expensive luxury to carry.

And what's the betting that the Government of the day favours Police Authorities with a 'friendly' commissioner at the expense of those who have elected a different party's candidate? It happens already at the Council level, so I'd say it's pretty inevitable.

Nice idea in principle, but as ever, in practice it'll be quite a different beast.

Posted By: CWC on October 23rd 2012 at 12:10:54

Message Thread

Help me out with the elected police commissioners thing. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Oct 23, 10:47:39
- Yes but (General Chat) - Nelsons final flanel, Oct 23, 13:19:59
  - That makes me pretty bloody wise (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Oct 23, 13:25:58
- I find the concept of electing some one to run the police who knows absolutely nothing (General Chat) - CB41, Oct 23, 12:58:08
  - but voted in by... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Oct 23, 13:03:01
    - oh no (General Chat) - Monty Peculiar, Oct 23, 13:13:30
      - It has a nice symmetry though - plebs voting in a chief pleb (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Oct 23, 13:16:02
  - we'll end up with a load sheriffs like roscoe piko train off of the dooks a hazaed. (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Oct 23, 13:01:53
    - "piko train" (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Oct 23, 13:05:04
      - u never saw it spelt,you know what i mean though.harry. (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Oct 23, 13:06:35
        
        . (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Oct 23, 13:07:46
        
        i meant to put "i" not you, tbh. (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Oct 23, 13:12:11
- I dont understand the thinking behind it either.... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Oct 23, 12:54:29
  - well it'll absolve the tories of any blame if the crime rate rises. (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Oct 23, 13:07:40
    - shirley... (General Chat) - Cheltenham_Canary, Oct 23, 13:09:18
- what a load of bollocks, electing Police Commisioners (General Chat) - phrankin, Oct 23, 12:46:16
- I might vote UKIP for shits and giggles. (n/m) (General Chat) - norway, Oct 23, 12:10:29
- If one is called Gordon, I shall vote for him (n/m) (General Chat) - yarmyyarmy, Oct 23, 11:27:39
- On the other hand (General Chat) - Old Git, Oct 23, 11:15:51
  - a) you're right. I should spoil my ballot. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Oct 23, 11:23:25
  - Wouldn't the elected official just become "one of them"? (General Chat) - duke of york, Oct 23, 11:18:43
    - Who knows? (General Chat) - Old Git, Oct 23, 11:26:46
      - Are politicians (local or national) more accountable because they're elected? Not really (General Chat) - BerlinCanary, Oct 23, 13:34:01
      - Good points (General Chat) - duke of york, Oct 23, 11:33:00
        
        they ought to have barred political parties from sponsoring candidates (General Chat) - CWC, Oct 23, 12:10:54
    - is this an idea copied from america? (n/m) (General Chat) - Tombs, Oct 23, 11:22:54
- the Mary option (n/m) (General Chat) - Higher Wrather, Oct 23, 10:54:24
- yes. (n/m) (General Chat) - Tricky Hawes, Oct 23, 10:52:28
  - Good. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Oct 23, 10:52:52
    - spoilt ballot (General Chat) - Basil Wrathbone, Oct 23, 10:59:07
      - "All coppers are cunts!" (n/m) (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Oct 23, 11:02:20
        
        Trouble is if you don't vote, which I also don't want to as I feel the same as you about (General Chat) - jafski, Oct 23, 11:11:59
        
        "just when I've been spoon fed how wonderful you are (General Chat) - pants, Oct 23, 11:10:09

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