Police and Crime Commissioners

[Farjo]

Is anyone voting? You can see your candidates from this link:  http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/

I thought that the candidates would be ex-policemen, but in my area the 2 candidates are both representing political parties. The Labour candidate was a member of a Police Authority but the Conservative candidate appears to have had no prior connection to the police at all.

What is the point of these elections? How can we, at the next election, know if they're doing a good job, what with our journalists? And given that some people would never vote conservative and others would never vote labour,  there's not even a real choice of candidates.

[slappy]

Its just another job for the boys, not needed and not wanted by the vast majority.The fact that candidates are affiliated to political parties says it all.I also would have expected the candidates to be time served experienced coppers,not people intent on furthering their political aspirations.
I`m not voting and I do not know anyone who is and before anyone says you should always use your right to vote,there has to be someone worth voting for , not just picking the best of a bad bunch.

[Fazerider]

It does seem a bit of a shambles. Generally, people will vote along party lines which makes this a bit of a farce, that is no way to select the best candidate. It should be completely apolitical, but the £5,000 deposit means it's inevitable most candidates will have party backing.
Apparently the Commissioner will be both supported and scrutinised by a panel of between 10 and 20 appointees from the various local authorities covered by each police area... so the PCC may not have that much power anyway. I wonder if the panel electing their own Commissioner might not have been a simpler and cheaper solution?
Can't decide if I should to try to work out which of the six standing in my area is the best candidate or whether not voting is the best solution. If the turnout is low enough they'll hopefully think again about the process.

[chris.biker]

I think that if its bollocks as I do, then to turn up and deface the voting slip has a stronger message than not turning up.

[Grahamm]

Is anyone voting? You can see your candidates from this link:  http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/

Here's the list for Hampshire:

    GOODALL, David Ian (Liberal Democrat)
    HAYES, Simon Alexander (Independent)
    JERRARD, Don (The Justice and Anti-Corruption Party)
    MATES, Michael (Conservative Party Candidate)
    RAYMENT, Jacqui (Labour Party Candidate)
    WEST, Stephen Michael (UKIP)

But I thought we were supposed to be electing someone to represent *OUR* views on policing and *NOT* a f*****g politician!

Well that makes my voting choice very simple. I'm not going to vote for *ANY* of them!!!

ADDENDUM: Oh and PS, I note from the leaflet I got through the door that we get to vote for a first choice *and* a second choice! In other words this PCC election is going to be done using a version of the Alternative Vote system, yet we didn't have a referendum on it!

I think that shows just how little relevance our political leaders think it has...  :rolleyes

[Farjo]

I think that if its bollocks as I do, then to turn up and deface the voting slip has a stronger message than not turning up.

:agree I'm going to write "Waste of money" across the slip.

AV gets used in many elections already e.g. the London Mayor and works well, so it is sensible to use it. If you don't want for the political parties then vote for the independent candidate.