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| PCC elections: independents make their mark as turnout slumps to record low | PCC elections: independents make their mark as turnout slumps to record low |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The unexpected victory of so many independent candidates in the police and crime commissioner elections – 12 at the latest count – has underlined a rejection of party politics in policing among the few who made it to the polling stations on Thursday. | The unexpected victory of so many independent candidates in the police and crime commissioner elections – 12 at the latest count – has underlined a rejection of party politics in policing among the few who made it to the polling stations on Thursday. |
| The rise of the independents has also come with the hidden price that at least five of the new commissioners are former officers, leading to claims that it will be the "police watching the police" in those areas rather than their being a voice of the public. | The rise of the independents has also come with the hidden price that at least five of the new commissioners are former officers, leading to claims that it will be the "police watching the police" in those areas rather than their being a voice of the public. |
| But while at least one former chief constable warned that this was not a healthy development, it may go a small way to addressing fears that the record low turnout will undermine the legitimacy of the commissioners and leave them with a weak mandate when they take office on November 22. | But while at least one former chief constable warned that this was not a healthy development, it may go a small way to addressing fears that the record low turnout will undermine the legitimacy of the commissioners and leave them with a weak mandate when they take office on November 22. |
| Supporters of the PCC elections, such as the thinktank Policy Exchange, quickly pointed to polling evidence that the public saw a police background as an important qualification for the job. It may help when the commissioners have their first "tough conversations" next week with their chief constables over budgets, precepts and strategic plans, which all have to be settled by a tight deadline of the end of January. | Supporters of the PCC elections, such as the thinktank Policy Exchange, quickly pointed to polling evidence that the public saw a police background as an important qualification for the job. It may help when the commissioners have their first "tough conversations" next week with their chief constables over budgets, precepts and strategic plans, which all have to be settled by a tight deadline of the end of January. |
| Ex-police officers prominent among the independent PCCs include Ian Johnston, a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, in Gwent; former detective chief inspector Martyn Underhill, who led the Sarah Payne investigation, in Dorset; and Martin Surl, the new Gloucestershire PCC, who worked for the force for more 30 years, reaching the rank of superintendent. Bill Longmore in West Mercia also worked for more than 30 years in the neighbouring Staffordshire force. Labour successfully fielded a former assistant chief constable, Ron Hogg, in Durham. | Ex-police officers prominent among the independent PCCs include Ian Johnston, a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, in Gwent; former detective chief inspector Martyn Underhill, who led the Sarah Payne investigation, in Dorset; and Martin Surl, the new Gloucestershire PCC, who worked for the force for more 30 years, reaching the rank of superintendent. Bill Longmore in West Mercia also worked for more than 30 years in the neighbouring Staffordshire force. Labour successfully fielded a former assistant chief constable, Ron Hogg, in Durham. |
| A significant chunk of the remaining independents are former police authority chairs, including Simon Hayes, who surprisingly defeated Michael Mates, the former Tory minister and friend of Asil Nadir, in Hampshire, and Ann Barnes in Kent, who nearly won the job outright with 46% first preferences and won in the second round. | A significant chunk of the remaining independents are former police authority chairs, including Simon Hayes, who surprisingly defeated Michael Mates, the former Tory minister and friend of Asil Nadir, in Hampshire, and Ann Barnes in Kent, who nearly won the job outright with 46% first preferences and won in the second round. |
| With six women elected their proportion did not even match the dismal 15% turnout. Among them were Labour's Vera Baird in Northumbria and Jane Kennedy in Merseyside, and the Conservatives' Katy Bourne in Sussex and Julia Mulligan in North Yorkshire. It is believed that no candidate with a black or Asian background was elected, leaving the new commissioners overwhelmingly older white males. | With six women elected their proportion did not even match the dismal 15% turnout. Among them were Labour's Vera Baird in Northumbria and Jane Kennedy in Merseyside, and the Conservatives' Katy Bourne in Sussex and Julia Mulligan in North Yorkshire. It is believed that no candidate with a black or Asian background was elected, leaving the new commissioners overwhelmingly older white males. |
| Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said the low turnout would affect the PCCs' mandate: "There will come a time when there will be conflict, inevitably, or challenges between the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner, and in some cases, the chief constable may well turn round and say, 'Your mandate is only 15%.'" | Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said the low turnout would affect the PCCs' mandate: "There will come a time when there will be conflict, inevitably, or challenges between the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner, and in some cases, the chief constable may well turn round and say, 'Your mandate is only 15%.'" |
| The campaign itself has also been damaging to the police service, according to one senior officer, who said it was now time for the talking to stop and for the newly elected watchdogs to step up to the difficult task ahead. | The campaign itself has also been damaging to the police service, according to one senior officer, who said it was now time for the talking to stop and for the newly elected watchdogs to step up to the difficult task ahead. |
| Superintendent Derek Barnett, president of the Police Superintendents Association, said: "The whole process of campaigning by those who supported the process and those who were candidates has been damaging to the police service. | Superintendent Derek Barnett, president of the Police Superintendents Association, said: "The whole process of campaigning by those who supported the process and those who were candidates has been damaging to the police service. |
| "People have made unrealistic claims about what they can do and people have harmed the reputation of the police by highlighting things like Hillsborough and Savile as justification for the introduction of commissioners – trying to say if we had had commissioners these things would never have happened. That is unjustifiable," he said. | "People have made unrealistic claims about what they can do and people have harmed the reputation of the police by highlighting things like Hillsborough and Savile as justification for the introduction of commissioners – trying to say if we had had commissioners these things would never have happened. That is unjustifiable," he said. |
| "If you are a candidate in a rural force without a football ground comments like that are not relevant and disingenuous." | "If you are a candidate in a rural force without a football ground comments like that are not relevant and disingenuous." |
| He said it was now time for the political rhetoric that the police service was broken to stop: "The PCCs will be confronted with the realisation of what they face and the challenges they face, and that will be a sharp reminder that this is a serious job and some difficult decisions need to be made." | He said it was now time for the political rhetoric that the police service was broken to stop: "The PCCs will be confronted with the realisation of what they face and the challenges they face, and that will be a sharp reminder that this is a serious job and some difficult decisions need to be made." |
| Chief constables across the country are prepared for some tough conversations when their PCCs take up their posts next week. Twelve of the 41 forces where commissioners have been elected are being led by acting chief constables. In another 14 forces chief officers are leaving or are considering whether to take retirement. The latest chief to confirm his departure was Mick Matthews, acting chief constable of Gloucestershire, who will leave early next year. | Chief constables across the country are prepared for some tough conversations when their PCCs take up their posts next week. Twelve of the 41 forces where commissioners have been elected are being led by acting chief constables. In another 14 forces chief officers are leaving or are considering whether to take retirement. The latest chief to confirm his departure was Mick Matthews, acting chief constable of Gloucestershire, who will leave early next year. |
| Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "It's vital that a robust and transparent recruitment process is developed, so that the most talented within the service step up to take these critical jobs. Deciding how to make these appointments is in the hands of the PCCs, but they will be wise to think carefully and take advice as a matter of priority." | Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "It's vital that a robust and transparent recruitment process is developed, so that the most talented within the service step up to take these critical jobs. Deciding how to make these appointments is in the hands of the PCCs, but they will be wise to think carefully and take advice as a matter of priority." |
| The reality of the Treasury's autumn statement and how further austerity measures will affect policing will not be known until the middle of December – something which may force PCCs to reassess the priorities they highlighted in their election literature. "PCCs may well be on the receiving end of further cuts," said Orde. "PCCs may find that current force models for aspects of policing may not be sustainable moving forward – this will of course impact greatly upon any strategic plans they may have." | The reality of the Treasury's autumn statement and how further austerity measures will affect policing will not be known until the middle of December – something which may force PCCs to reassess the priorities they highlighted in their election literature. "PCCs may well be on the receiving end of further cuts," said Orde. "PCCs may find that current force models for aspects of policing may not be sustainable moving forward – this will of course impact greatly upon any strategic plans they may have." |
| Orde said he hoped that discussions in the coming weeks between chief constables and commissioners would be settled through sensible conversation. | Orde said he hoped that discussions in the coming weeks between chief constables and commissioners would be settled through sensible conversation. |
| Tim Brain, former chief constable of Gloucestershire, said once the dust had settled after the excitement of their election, commissioners might well be shocked at the scale and complexity of the job they had taken on. "They may just think, 'I didn't realise it was going to be as difficult as this.'" | Tim Brain, former chief constable of Gloucestershire, said once the dust had settled after the excitement of their election, commissioners might well be shocked at the scale and complexity of the job they had taken on. "They may just think, 'I didn't realise it was going to be as difficult as this.'" |
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