THE time has come again for us to vote for a new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) – or not. The last election in 2012 cost £75 million, with the lowest peacetime turnout ever at an average of 15 per cent. A significant number of those who didn’t, gave the reason that they “don’t agree with electing police officials this way”. These pieces of information are gleaned from the Electoral Reform Society’s report. In addition, the role of the PCC is a salaried post.
Since expressing one’s choice at the polling booth is admirable, last time I spoiled my ballot paper by stating that “This is a criminal waste of money”. Remarkably, according to a report in the Guardian following the previous election in 1992, the number of spoilt votes in Wiltshire “raised eyebrows”.
Another area of concern is that the role of the PCC has – as expected – been politicised, a dangerous precedent for the policing in a democratic society. Within several months of the previous election, all four new commissioners in our region had “sacked” their chief constables and inserted their own choices.
What message does this send out? Previously, police authorities comprised council members, county councillors and magistrates who would corporately have an understanding of matters of law, and would ensure that a range of views was represented. The new system ensures that the opinion of a single commissioner, often with a party-political slant, controls the county police force.
This is why I’m intending to spoil my ballot paper again, this time with the words “Policing is not a party political matter”. It’s still a criminal waste of money, but that message has already been clearly voiced.
MIKE LANGTREE
Barley Close
Malmesbury
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