Colchester Labour Party chairman joins police commissioner fray (From Gazette)

Some knowledge of the police - well really some knowledge of anything! - would be useful in a police commissioner.

Obviously Colchester Labour Party is not taking this contest seriously. No point, really. Everyone knows Essex is the property of the Tories. They will probably put up Paul White for the job, and he will get in.

And even if the candidate was Mr. White's dog, or one of his pigs, the Tories would still elect it - probably with a bigger majority than its owner would get.

It needs to be a genuine contest between serious candidates who believe they know the direction to take to improve policing.
Party politics should be secondary to that aim. If not we are undermining the whole point of having an elected police commissioner.

a person with a sense of community and an iron will would be a good choice.politics should have no part in the matter.who will do the choosing.

Boris wrote:
And even if the candidate was Mr. White's dog, or one of his pigs, the Tories would still elect it - probably with a bigger majority than its owner would get.

you're right Boris, one of Paul White's Pigs would be the most suitable candidate for the post of Police commissioner!

RobWalker wrote:
It needs to be a genuine contest between serious candidates who believe they know the direction to take to improve policing.
Party politics should be secondary to that aim. If not we are undermining the whole point of having an elected police commissioner.

What on earth did you expect from having elected police commissioners? It is of course important for a democracy to keep party politics out of policing, so this was always a very dangerous, anti-democratic, move. The separation of powers principle - that the executive, legislature, and law enforcement - are kept apart, has been forgotten.

Say It As It Is OK? wrote:

Boris wrote:
And even if the candidate was Mr. White's dog, or one of his pigs, the Tories would still elect it - probably with a bigger majority than its owner would get.

you're right Boris, one of Paul White's Pigs would be the most suitable candidate for the post of Police commissioner!

Pigs might fly. Anyway, I think I hear the force helicopter overhead...

6079 Smith W wrote:

RobWalker wrote:
It needs to be a genuine contest between serious candidates who believe they know the direction to take to improve policing.
Party politics should be secondary to that aim. If not we are undermining the whole point of having an elected police commissioner.

What on earth did you expect from having elected police commissioners? It is of course important for a democracy to keep party politics out of policing, so this was always a very dangerous, anti-democratic, move. The separation of powers principle - that the executive, legislature, and law enforcement - are kept apart, has been forgotten.

It should be how the police become accountable to the public they are serving.
People often have views on the focus of policing.
This is how they can affect it, through democratic will.

happyinjaywick wrote:
OUCH...
:))
then our dear friend Boris.
Do you think then,
that Labour has lost in this bid for putting forewards a "suitable" candidate,
or are you feeling that Labour are a losing side before you even start?
your comment betrays your faith in labour it seems with this -
"even if the candidate was Mr. White's dog, or one of his pigs, the Tories would still elect it"

Happy, I have no faith in Labour as it now is. The old Labour of Attlee and Bevan, of course I have huge respect for them. But the present tripehounds are at best a joke.
As for the Tories, they are, as Nye famously said, "lower than vermin".
.
If we have to have an elected police commissioner, it should be a precondition that no candidate shall have ever belonged to, or been linked with, a political party. Of course this is impossible, for only someone in a political party will have the finance to pay for election materials. This is why elected police commissioners are such a bad idea.

Elected police commissioners are a good idea if we get strong candidates and the public get to decide on what sort of a police force they want.

Boris wrote:

happyinjaywick wrote: OUCH... :)) then our dear friend Boris. Do you think then, that Labour has lost in this bid for putting forewards a "suitable" candidate, or are you feeling that Labour are a losing side before you even start? your comment betrays your faith in labour it seems with this - "even if the candidate was Mr. White's dog, or one of his pigs, the Tories would still elect it"

Happy, I have no faith in Labour as it now is. The old Labour of Attlee and Bevan, of course I have huge respect for them. But the present tripehounds are at best a joke. As for the Tories, they are, as Nye famously said, "lower than vermin". . If we have to have an elected police commissioner, it should be a precondition that no candidate shall have ever belonged to, or been linked with, a political party. Of course this is impossible, for only someone in a political party will have the finance to pay for election materials. This is why elected police commissioners are such a bad idea.

Nye Bevan speaking of his 'burning hatred' for people of another political party is particularly unpleasant and didn't reflect well on him.
By the way Boris, that comment damaged the Labour party and could have cost them as many as two million votes in the 1950s.

RobWalker wrote:

6079 Smith W wrote:

RobWalker wrote:
It needs to be a genuine contest between serious candidates who believe they know the direction to take to improve policing.
Party politics should be secondary to that aim. If not we are undermining the whole point of having an elected police commissioner.

What on earth did you expect from having elected police commissioners? It is of course important for a democracy to keep party politics out of policing, so this was always a very dangerous, anti-democratic, move. The separation of powers principle - that the executive, legislature, and law enforcement - are kept apart, has been forgotten.

It should be how the police become accountable to the public they are serving.
People often have views on the focus of policing.
This is how they can affect it, through democratic will.

No. The 'democratic will' is expressed through the laws that are passed, bodies that are politically neutral are needed to enforce them and pass judgement on them. Politicians - who are all too often motivated by tabloid headlines - should be nowhere near it. Policing is best done by the police themselves. Not politicians desiring favourable headlines.

The idea is a bold step to try and give people more power over the decisions that affect their lives. If the best we're going to get are political pygmies who see it as a career stepping stone then it will have failed.

Totally agree with Boris. I see an ex police superintendent from Southend is standing. Looks hopeful, but we've got a bit of time to choose the right man. I know he's a politician, but I've got a lot of time for Paddick. I wonder of he might stand?

RobWalker wrote:
The idea is a bold step to try and give people more power over the decisions that affect their lives. If the best we're going to get are political pygmies who see it as a career stepping stone then it will have failed.

As you well know commissioners will be 'political pygmies', so you have now told us why this is a thoroughly bad idea.

6079 Smith W wrote:

RobWalker wrote:
The idea is a bold step to try and give people more power over the decisions that affect their lives. If the best we're going to get are political pygmies who see it as a career stepping stone then it will have failed.

As you well know commissioners will be 'political pygmies', so you have now told us why this is a thoroughly bad idea.

The jury is out.

"Jordan Newell" I fell off my chair laughing you can't be serious, pity "Frank Carson" died last week there was one last joke to tell !!!!!