Sussex Police Commissioner: Who will get your vote?

7:30am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter

The ballot papers can now be drawn up for the elections for the first Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

Whoever wins will become one of the most powerful figures in the county, with the right to hire and fire the head of police and control a £250 million budget but the election has failed to ignite the interest of the public.

What was originally mooted as a non-party political post is being contested by the three main Parliamentary parties, the UK Independence Party and only one independent candidate.

On November 15, the voting-age population among the 1.6 million people in Sussex will be asked to choose between them.

Click here for a special section with all the election news and candidate details.

In the last Parliamentary elections, if all the Sussex constituencies were taken together, the Conservatives took 46.4% of the vote, to the Lib Dems’ 27.7%, Labour’s 16.5% and UKIP’s 4%.

Along with an £85,000 salary, the new commissioner will have the power to hire and fire the chief constable and set the police budget, share of council tax and overall policing plan.

A police and crime panel will scrutinise the work of the commissioner but will only have the power of veto over council tax levels, which he or she will set each year.

Two independents who had said they wished to stand have dropped out. Matt Taylor and David Neilson were not on the list of nominations published on Friday.

Chichester Liberal Democrat Andrew Smith had come forward in the summer but later withdrew.

Newhaven councillor David Rogers was approached by his party in the eleventh hour and agreed to stand.

Victim Support has organised a Question Time-style event due to take place today at the Brighthelm Centre in North Road, Brighton, at 6.30pm – but it will not include canditate Conservative Councillor Katy Bourne, who is unavailable.

Politicising the police

Plans for the new police commissioner have sparked controversy.

Former Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair said this weekend that a voter’s boycott of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections is “the only way we are going to stop this”.

He said the policing areas were too big for people to properly represent.

Mark White, chairman of Sussex Police Federation, said: “We have similar concerns that this is going to politicise policing.

“The police authority, while it had its faults, consisted of cross-party membership, magistrates and independents which we felt gave good coverage across the whole of Sussex. It was widely representative.

“Policing should be independent from any political party. There is the potential here for politics to come into policing, which it shouldn’t.”

The Green Party has not put forward a candidate, with the party’s Brighton and Hove chairman Ray Cunningham branding the change from the police authority a “big mistake”.

He said: “This blatant politicisation of the police is bad for the force, bad for the community and bad for democracy.”

Facts and figures

During their five-year term the Police and Crime Commissioner will:

  • Have the power to hire and fire chief constables.
  • Set police budgets.
  • Hold the police to account.
  • Set out a five-year plan for policing.
  • Have a duty to regularly talk to and consult with the public.

To be in the running, candidates had to put down £5,000 – which is returned if they win 5% of the vote – and 100 nominations.

A cap has been put on the amount of money each candidate can spend on their campaign – at £219,983.

Councils have contacted residents, urging them to register in the elections, and the Electoral Commission is sending out 21 million leaflets nationwide.

The Authority

Sussex Police Authority held its final meeting at its Lewes headquarters in Brooks Close on Thursday.

The body was made up of councillors, reflecting the political complexion of East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and independent people.

It has overseen Sussex Police since the force was created in the ’60s, following up on work previously carried out by the old borough Watch Committees.

Since 2010, the authority has had the task of approving £51 million cuts.

The loss of 550 police staff and 500 officers was announced as the main method of saving money – although those estimates have now been slightly reduced.

A policy of forcing officers to retire after 30 years’ service has been dropped and some recruitment is expected to begin in the spring.

The North Downs and West Downs divisions were merged, while the major crime branch, forensics services and firearms provision have been merged with Surrey Police.

The police and crime commissioner will have to identify another £900,000 savings to stay |within reduced central Government budgets by 2015.

But another Government spending statement is expected on December 5, which is likely to restrict the financial options of the incoming commissioners and may limit their ability to raise money by raising the police’s council tax precept.

Comments(34)

mohawk says...
7:47am Wed 24 Oct 12

Hmm, allowing people who have never worked in the shoes of the police to help run it....it'll be a fail from day one. They generally seem to have unrealistic expectations / ideas and likely think they'll change the way it's run overnight... Good luck!

Report this post »

Fight_Back says...
7:51am Wed 24 Oct 12

I won't be voting as the whole idea is lunacy. Important decisions should be made by a panel as is done now not by a single political figure. Most of the candidates are politically aligned so law and order policy will be become even more of a political football than it is now. Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous. I urge everyone NOT to vote.

Report this post »

Camel54 says...
7:56am Wed 24 Oct 12

So far I am aware that there is a Conservative candidate and an "evangelical" independent. I won't be voting for either of those so who else is standing?

Maybe if we all stayed at home, this pointless exercise in politicisation of the police would just die a death and we could continue to have a publicly accountable force, as we do now.

Report this post »

Bobs my uncle says...
8:08am Wed 24 Oct 12

Not voting, I rather put my trust in the police, not an unqualified politician.

Report this post »

Indigatio says...
8:17am Wed 24 Oct 12

Agree with everyone above. Its a pointless exercise. Most people don’t want them. The Police should be independent of politicians. I am a great believer in the right to vote so I will attend the polling station but I shall spoil by ballot paper in protest and would urge those who feel that they shouldn't vote to do the same. Spolit Ballot Papers will get a lot more attention that a low turnout.

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
8:30am Wed 24 Oct 12

I'm not voting. Let's show this ballot to be the farce that it is.

Report this post »

Barry Trotter says...
8:41am Wed 24 Oct 12

I thought this was a good idea till I saw the political parties attached to candidates.

Report this post »

worthingite says...
8:54am Wed 24 Oct 12

I think that all these applicants are all hoping to get their political,corrupt dirty mitts on that 85K pay packet,there is a one in five chance of getting the job,not bad odds.

What a waste of time and money !!!

Report this post »

Vigilia says...
9:22am Wed 24 Oct 12

Well that's all very positive. It leaves only 272,992 to decide how they will vote.

Report this post »

saveHOVE says...
10:01am Wed 24 Oct 12

Tuesday Argus gave centrefold detail. The UKIP candidate was a serving police officer for 30 years - the only one with any insider experience.

But what does the job need? What was wrong with the panel system it is to replace? What does one Commissioner have to do that would not mean putting all eggs in one basket, with no laying date, no guarantee of being salmonella free or worse.

Former Metropolitan police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair counsels that we don't vote. Nuff said.

Report this post »

dhamallamafarmer says...
11:09am Wed 24 Oct 12

I had this incredible idea; let people who've experience of being a police officer, promoted through the ranks, head the police! What do we all want? Less crime. What possible difference does it make allowing us to vote on a commissioner except politics, and surely reducing crime is a non-partisan, apoloitical issue? All this time and effort could have been better spent. Actually, what time and effort? Have you been canvassed by any of those wanting the job? No? Well neither have I. Pointless exercise in phony public engagement.

Report this post »

mimseycal says...
12:02pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I am in wholehearted agreement with all those who hold that policing should be apolitical. I am thoroughly distrustful of all the candidates as they all seem to have a political agenda ... or if not a political agenda as such, certainly political affiliations. Dangerous in the extreme!

I don't hold not voting to be an option so, as I cannot in all honesty say that either one or another strikes me as more suitable, I'll probably go to vote purely to spoil the ballot paper.

Report this post »

Chieftain11 says...
12:09pm Wed 24 Oct 12

This Police Commissioner job is the ultimate in money wasting. There will also be a Deputy on about £40k. Add their pensions to that and bingo, it's jackpot time.

That aside, they will be nothing but 'tools' of the political parties who put them there. For that reason alone, I will not be voting. Anyway, I know nothing about these candidates or what they intend to do if elected.

Report this post »

Hovelady says...
12:33pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Having a Police Commissioner is a terrible idea..not only for the simple reason that the police force should not be directly influenced or controlled by a political party, but having one man/woman in control of a whole county's force surely leaves that person open to pressure from other outside influences..

I hope that all the candidates are squeaky clean and therefore can't be threatened or blackmailed by politicians, criminal organisations, etc into changing local policing policies to suit their particular requirements - or have I been watching too many american crime shows?!

Not sure yet whether to spoil paper in protest or vote to make sure at least we don't get a complete numpty put in charge...

Report this post »

mnairb says...
1:27pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I was under the impression that any 'worthy and concerned' citizen could apply, now I find that the candidates will be political hacks - someones otherwise unemployable chum who wants a nice cushy sinecure at £85 Grand a year. We don't even have a say in which candidates will be put forward. What an abuse of democracy. What a waste of our money - the last thing we need is yet another Qango leeching off the backs of taxpayers.

Report this post »

sosparty says...
2:32pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I urge everyone to exercise their democratic right to push the boundaries and spoil their ballot papers with SOS.

Report this post »

sosparty says...
2:39pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I've been involved with this election from the start and have had the opportunity to met the candidates up close and personal during many hustings and events.
To read my opinion of their credentials please check out my blog at http://aboutmatttayl
or.blogspot.co.uk/20
12/10/my-expert-opin
ion-of-sussex-police
-and.html
It has links to Scrapper Duncan's blog, who's interviewed the leading three candidates.
He's well worth a read, because he comes to the same conclusion and me.

Report this post »

sosparty says...
2:39pm Wed 24 Oct 12

As I....

Report this post »

dunfearn says...
5:27pm Wed 24 Oct 12

This is a totally unwanted process that risks the politicisation of the police. The credibilty of this process can be undermined by either a very low turnout or a high number of 'spoiled' ballot papers.
If you agree with the above:
DON'T VOTE or better still
DELIBERATELY SPOIL YOUR BALLOT PAPER.

Report this post »

Chieftain11 says...
5:35pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Until I see some sort of declaration or election manifesto on what these candidates intend to do if elected, it's all just expensive and dangerous jobsworth drivel. A no vote for any of them.

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
6:17pm Wed 24 Oct 12

What would make more of a protest statement - spoiling my ballot paper or just not voting? I'm still undecided about what to do.

Report this post »

Cash Cow says...
3:49am Thu 25 Oct 12

Another step towards the Americanisation of a once great nation. All the teenagers say "like" fifteen times every sentence, all the girls are "guys" and all the boys are "dudes". Why don't we change the name of the country to the 51st State and be done with it.

Report this post »

Cash Cow says...
3:52am Thu 25 Oct 12

AmboGuy wrote:
What would make more of a protest statement - spoiling my ballot paper or just not voting? I'm still undecided about what to do.
I agree with your point AmboGuy, though whatever you decide, or anyone else, it won't make one iota of difference, the writing is already on the wall.

Report this post »

D360 says...
6:35pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Cash Cow wrote:
AmboGuy wrote:
What would make more of a protest statement - spoiling my ballot paper or just not voting? I'm still undecided about what to do.
I agree with your point AmboGuy, though whatever you decide, or anyone else, it won't make one iota of difference, the writing is already on the wall.
The advice from most proponents against this is just "don't vote", but I think that spoiling the ballot paper would be more impactive? Showing the Home Secretary we would make the effort of attending the polling station to make a point?

I really don't know which to do, hopefully this farce will see the end of Theresa May

Report this post »

sosparty says...
11:41pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Ouch.
UKIP candidate Tony Armstrong, got a rough ride with Scrapper Duncan...
Have you heard?
He's been called a RACIST!
Nasty; you have gotta check out his interview at scrapperduncan's blog...
The race is hotting up and have you heard the latest from the SOS club?
MAD....

Report this post »

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
10:45am Fri 26 Oct 12

Can only agree with the general sentiment. I shan't be voting, I find the whole idea of an openly-politicised police commissioner absolutely appalling.

And the choice (maybe not is Sussex) is between a party hack or an enthusiastic amateur who, depending on their particular insanity, either thinks all police are fascist pigs who should be castrated or wants to re-instate the death penalty and go back to the days of Dixon of Dock Green.

Report this post »

sosparty says...
4:01pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Have you seen Katy Bourne's manifesto?
It says 'Sussex Needs Katy Bourne'...
Yeah right....
Sussex needs Katy Bourne like a hole in the head.

I've emailed to tell her she's misspelt 'priorities' on her front page but she's ignoring me.

Really, how can you expect someone to set 'priorities', when you can't even spell it properly.

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
6:25am Mon 29 Oct 12

Spoil your ballot paper. It will make more of a statement than just not voting.

Report this post »

AmboGuy says...
6:25am Mon 29 Oct 12

Spoil your ballot paper. It will make more of a statement than just not voting.

Report this post »

sosparty says...
7:40am Fri 2 Nov 12

The latest from Katy Bourne is that she'll waiver the Council Tax bill for all PSCO's.......

Is it just me or is this an idea worthy of the dustbin?

1, she'll well above her station if she thinks she has the power to do so.
2, what about the other workers in society who do just as good a job as PSCO's, what about Policemen, nurses, teachers, bin men?

Sussex needs Katy Bourne like a hole in the head.

Report this post »

Chieftain11 says...
12:51pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Have published this elsewhere on here

My sympathies are with senior police officers who have spent their lives fighting crime.

Now they will be subject to the childish whims and fancies of political ideologies that range from the 'hang-em and flog' brigade to anarchist thinking basket cases.

As for Deputy PCC' they will be chosen by political parties who paid the PCCs deposit. Jobs for the boys, nothing more.

Report this post »

Algeria Touchshriek says...
10:39am Sun 11 Nov 12

The beardy Labour man will never get my vote. Labour are foul end of.

The UKIP guy sounded OK, especially being an ex officer himself. But he will be too focused on let's help the druggy etc. Well let's help them by giving them some dodgy heroin and let them kill themselves. Drugs are not the problem, it's the scum that takes them.

The others two men are so forgettable I can't even recall them.

Therefore the blonde Tory bird will get my vote.

1. She looks nice and friendly

2. She sounds successful in her life.

4. She is old enough to have seen life but not old enough to be dithery

5. She is Tory so will align with the national politics.

My only concern, as she is a bird, is not to be too pre-occupied with domestic violence. Yes it is important, but just as big as car crime, burglary and general scum on our streets.

Report this post »

Hove Actually says...
6:50pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Just write "None of the above" on your ballot paper and hope we win

Report this post »

1styummymummy says...
6:15am Tue 13 Nov 12

I wont be voting for any of them. I dont want anyone associated with a political party that can have that kind of influence in that kind of position. The Police already operate within its own institutionalised rationale of thinking, do we really need a nominated political influence added into the mix, I think not. Where are all the independant candidates, as I can only see one standing. At the end of the day whoever is elected will become a puppet to their political leanings anyway, which as far as I can make out will just add more politics into a pot which is supposed to be independant of any such influences. I forsee increased 'drinks in the bar' after hours and more deep pockets being filled.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree