AlanHo Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 It would appear that the UK government have decided to appoint an independent Police and Crime Commissioner for each area who will control the police budget and have the power to sack the chief of police in his domain. I'm not sure what else he is required to do except collect a big fat salary at the taxpayers expense.We have a postal vote and yesterday our voting papers arrived through the door listing 7 candidates. You put a cross in two columns stating your first and second choices. The list of candidates states just their names and which political party they stand for.The only way you can get more information is to search the internet or phone a national number and be sent a 1 page fly sheet for each candidate stating his or hers policies and who they are. I did this and was appalled at the paucity of information and the list of platitudes reeled out by the 7 candidates in our area.I have no idea how the guy can be independent if he stands for a particular political party. Worse than that - there has been no canvassing or adverts for the candidates. I have absolutely no knowledge of the candidates that I am to vote for other than the fact that the media report that nationally most of them are failed or retired politicians - retired policemen or ex-military - most of whom have never run a corner shop let alone a large organisation and see another gravy train they can jump on.Am I alone in considering this a farce and an affront to democracy.Much as I realise this is not good citizenship - I am not going to bother to vote because I might just as well stick a pin in the paper blindfold. I suspect we are about to experience one of the worst voting turnouts in history, because I have yet to meet anyone who can name any of the candidates for their area (including me!) or have a clue what it is all about.Two of my friends didn't even know there was an election until they received their postal voting papers this week. A considerable number of people only know of the election because the press have been taking the micky out of that buffoon John Prescott (Tony Blair's ex pugilist minister) who is standing for election in Hull.After that rant I feel a little better.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 A waste of money, £65000 - £100,000 salary.It will surprise me if the turnout exceeds 20%.I will not bother voting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 A vote of "none of the above" done a sufficient number of times may, just may, persuade the venerable powers-that-be of the farce that they are promulgating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 The significant thing to me is that the only "support" for any candidate I have seen has been for the candidates "representing" political parties (and they have had the gall to call themselves independant.The impetus for the entire scheme has been political from beginning to end and it appears as though the police force are being politcised via the back door.It looks like the thin end of yet another wedge.One thing that I find odd is that the elected candidate appears to be going to be a Crime Commisioner. I thought all persons commisioning crime were jailed or heavily fined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted November 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 One thing that I find odd is that the elected candidate appears to be going to be a Crime Commisioner. I thought all persons commisioning crime were jailed or heavily fined.Dictionary definition : Commissioner = A person authorized to perform certain tasksSuch as crime!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 We don't seem to have as many choices, but I will be voting for the Independent candidate as I have real qualms about party politics getting in the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted November 9, 2012 Report Share Posted November 9, 2012 A vote of "none of the above" done a sufficient number of times may, just may, persuade the venerable powers-that-be of the farce that they are promulgating.I would not hold your breath pops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 We have 3 "political" and 1 independent candidates locally.The independent chap seems to have the most support amongst those I know who intend to vote on ThursdayHis manifesto says :-I am standing as an Independent candidate and will remain independent of any political party because party politics has no place in policing.In 1829 Sir Robert Peel said “The public are the police, the police are the public.”That will be my guiding principle.My aim is to cut crime and deliver the public’s call to make Gloucestershire a safer and even more pleasant place to live, work and enjoy.He will be getting my vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 AlanHo Said:no canvassing or adverts for the candidates. I have absolutely no knowledge of the candidates that I am to vote for " Exactly Minister. If people were given that sort of knowledge then just about everyone would know what is going on."" This way, when law and order goes all tits up we can blame it on the populace because it was their vote that decided how things were run and by whom.""You mean in the same way that we have extricated ourselves from the NHS problem by underfunding the Trusts and then blaming them for incompetence ?""How clever you are Minister. If only I possessed vision such as yours.""Tea Minister ?"Anyone who used to watch "Yes Minister" on T.V. will be familiar with the similarity in script.Laughably, one independent here in the SouthWest is Tam Macpherson a pub landord who narrowly missed having his licence revoked recently and has County Court Judgements against him. (More info: http://www.thisisply...tail/story.html )He seems my kind of guy !Perhaps a take on the old Reggie and Ronnie Kray type of local policing could be reinstated. Zero tolerance once again means zero tolerance. Any little scrote who mugs an old lady gets his toenails pulled out with pliers and then kneecapped.Justice on the spot, - cutting out revenue on paperwork, courts and jail time. Put an element of sinister fear back into policing. The feral youth spends more time indoors building his model aircraft. His 29 other mates do similar, - fearing a "Liverpool Grin" if they step out of line. ( And nobody bothers to explain to them what the line is, - just to keep them in line. )Ah ! the wonderful smell of the blossom of nostalgia given off even now in memory of the days of yore.If Tam Macpherson sends one of his "chaps" to pick me and take me to the polling booth like they used to back in the 50's & 60's - I think I know which way I am voting. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted November 10, 2012 Report Share Posted November 10, 2012 maneman you are so politically correct. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I am definitely NOT prepared to vote on party lines for a police commisioner, it is totally wrong to include politics in this. I know bugger all about who or what independants stand for in this farce either. What a complete waste of money. The best thing is to totally ignore this election. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 I am definitely NOT prepared to vote on party lines for a police commisioner, it is totally wrong to include politics in this. I know bugger all about who or what independants stand for in this farce either. What a complete waste of money.I must say that I do agree with your sentiments, andsome. Politics should not be involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted November 11, 2012 Report Share Posted November 11, 2012 Yet another Bureaucratic load of old codswallop dreamt up by an incompetent Government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 I vote when local elections and general elections are held but I'm not bothering to vote for Police Commissioners, what a waste of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 The list of candidates states just their names and which political party they stand for.I don't think that the Police should become entangled in politics personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted November 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2012 The first result has been announced - it is for Wiltshire.Only 7% of all people eligible to vote, voted for him with their first and second votes. They call this democracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 Hmmmm............Conspiracy theorists are often laughed at, but I do think we have some sort of conspiracy going on with this Police and NHS nonsense.A chance for this and future Governments to extricate themselves from blame by putting an overpaid scapegoat in place perhaps ? Keep us all watching the right hand whilst the left hand causes much mischief, and goes without notice until it is too late to do anything about it ?Someone has sat down and thought this one out pretty thoroughly, even down to the well crafted and choreographed lack of both information and media coverage of the polling event.The rule should have been of course that any polling station with under 30% turnout, all votes be declared null and void.The resultant millions of pounds to re-run the whole thing would have proved too costly to finance, and therefore we could have put the whole idea to bed.Turnout in Cornwall was 15%. - results still not in ! - Cornish Pasty deliveries at polling stations disrupted the count. :)Waste of time and money ? That money could have gone toward some nice furnishing for poor old Abu Qatada's new house.Hate preacher Abu Qatada will get a new home at the taxpayers' expense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 Both the police and the NHS are well known to be drowning in reams of almost entirely pointless paperwork and the governments response seems to be to create yet more layers of bureaucratic nonsense. I suppose this is what you get when the county is run by career politicians who have no real world experience and couldn't organise the proverbial piss-up in a brewery with an instruction manual and an army of helpers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 Overall turnout by all people eligible to vote was 14%. Great stuff. Just shows what the people thought about the whole fiasco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted November 17, 2012 Report Share Posted November 17, 2012 I also see that Lord Prescott got beat in the Hull election by a Tory Candidate. I bet that went down well with the Labour Party. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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