Voting Police commissioner on 15th

Third Opinion · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:54

Had my polling card through today.

I have seen a few adverts about crime and my chance to vote.

I have no clue on who the candidates are and what they stand for. I assume if I go to vote I will just be picking a name at random.

What the hell is this about, and where and how am I meant to find out who to vote for?

Morba · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:58

I don't understand why I should be deciding where police money and time is being spent. My needs do not reflect the rest of my area.

I think I read that something like 10 or more people who decided on these things are being replaced by an elected commisioner.

Sounds silly to me. I don't know where best to spend this money at all, so why am I being given a choice?

cm1179 · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:59

you should've recieved a leaflet through the post?

Jonners · 1 Nov 2012 at 22:59

Can't be bothered to vote for this...

sketchytom · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:01

i gave the leaflet to my dog to chew

Surveyor · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:01

Find Your Candidates

loopylou · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:01

I've been advised (by two police officer) to vote for an independent candidate so that party politics don't play a role in policing.

Considering that no one has canvassed me this seems just as good as picking a name at random.

Morba · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:03

Oh it's polital party based? Great, so the voting will be distorted due to peoples preference on political party rather than the candidates actual policies?

doofer · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:06

Vote purely on the likelihood of the candidates name appearing as a Police Commissioner in a DC/Marvel Comic.

Third Opinion · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:06

sketchytom said:
i gave the leaflet to my dog to chew

Think I will give my polling card to mine. This is horse you know what. What a complete waste of money!

Surveyor · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:06

loopylou said:
I've been advised (by two police officer) to vote for an independent candidate so that party politics don't play a role in policing.

I only have a choice of 2 candidates, Labour and Conservative.

loopylou · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:08

Yep. I just can't see what the point this is. Fruitless exercise designed to give the impression that the public have "power"

Mickie · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:08

loopylou · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:10

Surveyor said:
I only have a choice of 2 candidates, Labour and Conservative.

Ah we have six, two of which are independent, one who has been on the police authority for the last few years. She can have my vote.

Morba · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:11

loopylou said:
I've been advised (by two police officer) to vote for an independent candidate so that party politics don't play a role in policing.

Considering that no one has canvassed me this seems just as good as picking a name at random.

Independent sounds good.
My independent used to run a bakery. Now, anyone that knows me know I like a good bakery. I used to visit one in Keynsham often.
This is a good thing. Independent and cakes. Must be a winner

Pudney · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:14

loopylou said:
Ah we have six, two of which are independent, one who has been on the police authority for the last few years. She can have my vote.

Aah, I've just been having a look. Laughed off the chartered accountant, only seem 2 viable candidates and one of those is the conservative candidate!

Zbornak · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:17

Don't panic if you live in London and you don't get polling cards.

You never will....will.....will....

[TW]Fox · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:17

I've had a look at all my candidates. Very few of them explain what background they have and of the few who do, only one has any police experience. The Labour candidate seems far too busy explaining why Tories are bad, which doesn't to me seem to be the point in this particular election.

Still not sure who to vote for.

Pudney · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:19

[TW]Fox;23083918 said:
I've had a look at all my candidates. Very few of them explain what background they have and of the few who do, only one has any police experience. The Labour candidate seems far too busy explaining why Tories are bad, which doesn't to me seem to be the point in this particular election.

Still not sure who to vote for.

My labour candidate says:

As a mum and a business woman I bring many skills to this role, I have raised a family;

Ahleckz · 1 Nov 2012 at 23:21

I personally think that electing police commisioners is a good thing. The police are routinely seen as being above the law, rightly or wrongly, and the whole Andrew Mitchell fiasco demonstrated that they some sordid affair with the media. If they were instead forced to focus on local policing matters by having someone who was locally accountable then perhaps they won't worry about trivial events and instead focus their attention and that of their officers upon concerns of their local populace. People here, and in Motors, moan about the traffic police and the amount of time that they spend trying to catch someone going 80mph in a 70. Sure, it's policing. But is it really necessary or the correct utilisation of police? A police commissioner, elected by the people, will be able to answer that and I suspect he'll draw the same conclusions that the majority here will - no, it's not.

It's a shame that in Scotland we're going backwards and having one 'super force' which will be an organisational nightmare.