Is it time to consider a system of regular public affirmative votes for chief constables?

If those officers fail to obtain at least 50 per cent of the vote, their contracts should be terminated.

The electorate would be limited to those with no criminal record, except for minor offences.

Such a proposal would reconnect the police with the people.

Another suggestion is that we directly elect police authorities.

This would not be as effective as affirmative votes because it is a settled principle of our police system that police authorities have no control of police operations - that is reserved for chief constables.

-Mike Sherlock, Eastbourne