The closer we get
to election day for the new Police and Crime Commissioners, the less well
thought through the whole process seems to have been.
The government had
expressed a strong desire to see strong non-party candidates coming forward. But that aim has been fatally undermined by
the cost barrier. Not only do candidates
have to find a significant (£5000) deposit, they also have to fund the
production and distribution of any promotional literature. The refusal to allow the usual election
privilege of free distribution has simply put another hurdle on the route. It apes the worst aspect of US politics –
that so many elected roles are the exclusive preserve of those who have the
wealth to contest them, albeit with the caveat that few are likely to try it in
practice.
The suggestion that
candidates should instead promote their candidacy through public meetings local
newspapers and electronic media is surely unrealistic – as it is also
unrealistic to expect any candidate for such large areas to be able to have
direct contact with more than a tiny portion of the electorate.
By default, most of
those who bother to vote – and I suspect turnout will be extremely low – will
end up voting along traditional party lines, knowing little about any of the
candidates.
In effect an
attempt by the government to move towards a more American-style of
electioneering where the individual counts more than the party, will end up
achieving precisely the opposite.
Then we have the
restrictions on candidature, of which a number of potential candidates have
already fallen foul. Whilst I can see
the rationale of banning somebody who has just been released from his third
term for armed robbery from setting police priorities, the idea that an
otherwise model citizen who committed a youthful folly 30 years ago should be
similarly treated seems draconian. And
at least one could say that such a person would have had some direct experience
of the Criminal Justice System.
But apparently this
was a restriction agreed by “all parties” in the House of Commons, and
challenged by none during its passage through the legislature. Were they all asleep, or just not paying
attention?
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1 comment:
On this subject I have to respect the views of my son, a member of the Dyfed Powys force. He has strong reservations about this whole idea. I understand that the majority of constables are also concerned. Such concerns seem to have fallen on deaf years amongst the lawmakers.
One of the more serious problems that I see is that come election day, the vote will be a reaction to the government at Westminster rather than an appraisal of who is the best candidate. I see a situation where the best possible Police Commissioner will be denied the job simply because his political party is not in favour in that particular area.
It seems a very poor way to manage a service that is so essential to our civilization.
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