Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
The turnout may well be disappointing, when is it otherwise?
The only time we see people clamouring to vote is when they cannot.
The excuses have begun, the BBC wonders if people will bother to vote because it is likely to be a rainy day, but when has a lack of public enthusiasm had more of an effect than packing Hyde Park with banner waving protesters?
If the acreage of the fiefdoms proposed is cause for concern is not the overt Party-Politicisation of the whole thing not a matter for complaint also: The preposterous conditions that each Candidate must meet, squeaky-clean and loaded.
If the public's No! is to mean No! surely it is batter expressed as such? Turn a blind eye to this election if you will, as you might on seeing a truck bearing down upon you...
Can there be a greater, more severe, powerlessness than that we impose upon ourselves?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
I for one think that we need an elected Commissioner (and I'm sure she will make a good job of it!). As for Ian Blair's comments, I wouldn't pay any attention to someone who hardly covered himself with glory at the Met.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
There are many reasons for not voting, and not caring is certainly one of them. Some believe that the whole process is flawed; some believe that none of the candidates is of sufficient calibre; but the only people you can accuse of not caring about policing are the ones who abstain out of laziness.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Is there a candidate who wants to bring back both corporate and capital punishment?
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
I do hope you mean 'corporate' David, and not 'corporal'. There you could be on to something.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Good point Tom, I'll settle for both
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
no i believe keith bibby said he was busy that day but would gladly fit in public executions when time allowed.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
He's not the only one Howard, you walk round the town a lot, I'm sure you come across a few we'd be better off without
Guest 732- Registered: 8 Nov 2011
- Posts: 128
I would like to nominate David Little as the local Police Commissioner
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Over the next couple of days, millions of Britons will receive leaflets urging them to vote in a poll which will shape the top of UK policing.
More than 20 million leaflets are being posted to the British public in an effort to raise awareness of the forthcoming police and crime commissioner elections, which take place in November.
The newly-elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) will replace the current police authority in 41 areas.
But despite leaflets and a gritty government TV advert claiming it will be 'a vote which could make a real difference to your community', experts have predicted that fewer than one in five will turn out to vote.
So what will the PCCs actually do and how will their role be different from that of the police authority?
WHAT POWERS WILL PCCs HAVE?
The PCCs will be responsible for setting priorities for each police force, as well as overseeing its budget, and hiring and dismissing chief constables.
Each position will come with a salary of between £65,000 and £100,000 a year, although successful candidates do not have to have direct policing experience.
Although operational responsibility for day-to-day policing will remain with senior officers, the government say the PCC will 'ensure your police focus on tackling the crimes which matter to you most'.
The government say the PCCs will not 'run' the police force, but will 'regularly meet with the public to help set police and crime plans'.
Policing officials will tell voters that the new role will create a stronger link between forces and the public.
Home Secretary Theresa May told Sky News: "Police authorities at the moment have no democratic mandate to do this job of overseeing the police.
"The Police and crime commissioner will for the first time have a democratic mandate from the people to do this."
While PCCs will doubtless be keen to take credit for any positive crime figures revealed during their tenure, the new role means a single politician can be held to account for rising crime statistics.
WHO HAS APPLIED?
Candidates who apply to be elected as PCCs have to stump up a £5,000 deposit - £4,500 more than the amount required for general election candidates.
Political campaign experts have estimated that a concerted effort at being elected would likely cost any candidate around £50,000 - and even then it's 'doing it on the cheap'.
Critic: Former Met Police head Sir Ian Blair urged people not vote in the elections (PA)The higher cost for running has led some small party or independent candidates to pull out of the election race because they can't afford it.
Those who put themselves forward only get their £5,000 deposit back if they secure 5 per cent of the vote.
Ministers say they want candidates from a 'variety of backgrounds' to run in the elections, although candidates from the three major political parties make up many of those running.
The Conservatives have fielded candidates in most regions, while Labour, who were originally against the idea of PCCs, have since done the same.
The Lib Dems, however, have only put forward a handful of candidates so far.
This has led to critics claiming that the whole process is geared against independent candidates, as those from the major parties invariably get the support of their local MP.
Counter terrorism expert Colin Skelton, an independent standing in Wiltshire, told the BBC: "The government did make a big show about wanting independent candidates, but the whole business of this is very bureaucratic and it's a big financial cost."
WILL THEY WORK?
Support for the idea of PCCs has been mixed, with criticism of the policy even coming from former senior officers.
The new PCCs will have to swear an 'oath of impartiality' and will be expected to serve all sections of the public in England and Wales 'without fear or favour'.
Those elected will also have to 'take all steps' to present maximum transparency and accountability in their office.
However, this hasn't stopped Sir Ian Blair, the former head of the Metropolitan Police, from calling for the public to 'boycott' the elections on November 15.
He believes policing areas are too large for the public to engage with, and that the role of PCC was 'ill-conceived'.
He told the Sky News Murnaghan Programme: "I've never said this before but I actually hope people don't vote because that is the only way we are going to stop this.
"If they were going to break policing up, do it in a completely different way, small cities and small towns, perfect. But that is not what you have got.
"This is just a very strange issue to come forward with at such a difficult time for the country."
From:Yahoo News.
[The bold type in my emphasis]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
The problem with this election is that because people know not a jot about the candidates, those few bothering to get out and vote will essentially vote along party lines. So if you pin a rosette on a donkey he is just as likely to be voted in. A red donkey or indeed a blue donkey, maybe even shock horror.. an orange donkey..whichever faction manage to get their numbers out most will win it. The identity of the individual on the ballot paper wont count for anything because nobody knows anything at all about any of them..who are they? Have they all beamed down from the stratosphere in that last meteor shower? perhaps Felix Baumgarner brought them back with him.
Budgets will play a big part. At the moment it appears most of the candidates have no budget at all, apart that is from yon Tory chappie Craig MacKinlay who has managed a bit of media blitzing. Here is a recent picture of him with Thanet South MP Laura Sandys.which they sent to us previously. At least we know now what this one candidate looks like.
PS: I had to have a double take there for a minute to make sure they werent holding hands..otherwise..big scoop!
Now that would be interesting...
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Thanks Vince, you can be my assistant, this is the plan.
You have a humane killer, I have a skip on wheels, we patrol the town and eradicate the oxygen thieves, on our days off Keith Bibby will stand in.
Are you in?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
that gezzer mackinlay looks a bit shifty to me,he's eyes are to close together.
and i'm sure ive seen him on crime watchs most wanted list.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#71
Not holding hands Paul, just mislaid the key...say no more, nudge-nudge.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 732- Registered: 8 Nov 2011
- Posts: 128
Dave I'm in
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
to sum the whole thing up it has to be a party poliical appointee or a very wealthy independent.
hardly satisfactory either way.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Notes from some other voters...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/25/no-vote-for-police-commissioners
What is the likely outcome...will a
fist be made of it, even with two fingers sticking up?
The advice to not vote that came from somebody that has never had to rely on public opinion, seems to be taking hold.
Tough options all round after the count. Who would dare to count the non voters as a 'No'?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I will not be voting I do not know who the person is or what he or she is standing for.I have said this before, it should be a x policeperson or services .
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
one lost vote for ukip
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
it has to be someone with no connection to the police as it would just end up like having 2 chief constables.
