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| Simon Weston pulls out of police commissioner race | Simon Weston pulls out of police commissioner race |
| (6 days later) | |
| The Falklands war hero Simon Weston has become the latest independent candidate to pull out of the race to become one of Britain's first police and crime commissioners. | The Falklands war hero Simon Weston has become the latest independent candidate to pull out of the race to become one of Britain's first police and crime commissioners. |
| Weston, who had announced his intention in February to stand for the job in South Wales, said on Twitter he was withdrawing because he had "become disillusioned by the fact it was getting too political and not serving the people". | Weston, who had announced his intention in February to stand for the job in South Wales, said on Twitter he was withdrawing because he had "become disillusioned by the fact it was getting too political and not serving the people". |
| Weston is the second high-profile military figure to quit following the withdrawal of Colonel Tim Collins, who was in the running to become the Conservative police and crime commissioner candidate in Kent. | Weston is the second high-profile military figure to quit following the withdrawal of Colonel Tim Collins, who was in the running to become the Conservative police and crime commissioner candidate in Kent. |
| When he declared his intention to stand earlier this year, Weston said he was keen to stop ageing politicians taking over: | When he declared his intention to stand earlier this year, Weston said he was keen to stop ageing politicians taking over: |
| "I'm an ordinary guy who is well known and I would make it my business to hear what the public would say about policing. Crime is a very important issue and I think there's a need for someone to go to when there is a problem. | "I'm an ordinary guy who is well known and I would make it my business to hear what the public would say about policing. Crime is a very important issue and I think there's a need for someone to go to when there is a problem. |
| "People want to know what is being done about cars being stolen, about areas where young people are taking drugs or hanging around, and about burglaries." | "People want to know what is being done about cars being stolen, about areas where young people are taking drugs or hanging around, and about burglaries." |
| The former Welsh guardsman, aged 50, was badly burned on board the Sir Galahad supply ship when it was bombed at Bluff Cove in the Falklands war in 1982. His candidacy was marred by speculation that a criminal conviction when he was 14 for being a passenger in a stolen car disqualified him from standing for the post. But he was assured by both the home secretary and the attorney general that this was not the case. | The former Welsh guardsman, aged 50, was badly burned on board the Sir Galahad supply ship when it was bombed at Bluff Cove in the Falklands war in 1982. His candidacy was marred by speculation that a criminal conviction when he was 14 for being a passenger in a stolen car disqualified him from standing for the post. But he was assured by both the home secretary and the attorney general that this was not the case. |
| The ban on convicted criminals standing is believed to apply only to those who were 18 or over at the time of the offence. The legislation also says that the offence has to carry a prison sentence whether or not the individual was jailed. Weston was fined. | The ban on convicted criminals standing is believed to apply only to those who were 18 or over at the time of the offence. The legislation also says that the offence has to carry a prison sentence whether or not the individual was jailed. Weston was fined. |
| "The teenage conviction was part of the process, part of his thinking was that he wasn't getting a clear message from government about whether or not he could stand," a spokesman for Weston said. "That was one of the reasons, along with the increasing political infighting – Simon wanted to be a non-political candidate. So he's pulled out. That's it." | "The teenage conviction was part of the process, part of his thinking was that he wasn't getting a clear message from government about whether or not he could stand," a spokesman for Weston said. "That was one of the reasons, along with the increasing political infighting – Simon wanted to be a non-political candidate. So he's pulled out. That's it." |
| The Labour former police minister Alun Michael has been selected to fight the South Wales seat for his party. | The Labour former police minister Alun Michael has been selected to fight the South Wales seat for his party. |
| A Local Government Association survey of the views of 36 potential police commissioner candidates published last week showed most believed party political labels would be more important than experience of policing in deciding how people voted in the elections, which are scheduled for 15 November. The survey also confirmed fears of a dismal turnout, with 75% of candidates expecting a lower turnout than the 33% for May's local elections. | A Local Government Association survey of the views of 36 potential police commissioner candidates published last week showed most believed party political labels would be more important than experience of policing in deciding how people voted in the elections, which are scheduled for 15 November. The survey also confirmed fears of a dismal turnout, with 75% of candidates expecting a lower turnout than the 33% for May's local elections. |
| Police and crime commissioners will have power over police force budgets and to hire and fire chief constables but are not allowed to interfere in operational matters. | Police and crime commissioners will have power over police force budgets and to hire and fire chief constables but are not allowed to interfere in operational matters. |
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