Wondering whether to vote in the police elections? Listen to Ian Blair, Police & Crime Commissioners Options

[Ruwan Uduwerage-...]

Daniel Hannan a writer and journalist, and Conservative MEP for South East England since 1999 today in the Telegraph <http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100185892/wondering-whether-to-vote-in-the-police-elections-listen-to-ian-blair/> accuses Lord Ian Blair, a former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and champion of police reform as being undemocratic for raising concerns about establishment of Police & Crme Commissioners.

Hannan claims that like "many senior coppers, he [Blair] resents the notion of constabularies being overseen by elected representatives", a statement that he seems unable to corroborate.

The PCC elections has nothing to do with increasing democracy, if this were a case, police authorities would have been reformed to be 'fit for purpose' and not replaced with a politically influenced individual, who actually is not required to possess any knowledge, understanding, skills, or ability (academic or professional) in order to take on this important role.

The reality is that the British policing model, as based on Sir Robert Peel's 'Nine Principles' of Policing have at there core the requirement for a civil police service to both work with, and alongside the civil populace. The uniformed officer is merely a citizen who has been granted further powers in order to more easily undertake their role.

Now I am not saying for one instance that the current, or event past police services have fulfilled this role as Peel had envisaged, but replacing the police authorities with a politically influenced and supported individual does not on the face of it appear to be increasing the democracy, and communities influence on policing.

Should people veto the elections? Well this is one matter for individual concience, for the reality is that the PCC's elections are going to take place on 15th November, and someone is going to be elected.

Frankly, with few exceptions the list of candidates for PCC's around the country would be laughable, if this job was not so important. I have seen and heard of few manifesto's that are not full of erroneous and outdated criminological theories, primarily based on the edicts of the "hang them high" brigade.

There is very little acknowledgement that we live in a globalised society, where the actors engaged in deviance may be influenced by the actions thousands of miles away on the other side of the planet, or even in the neighbouring force area. Policing has progressed beyond George Dixon, Z-Cars, and even The Bill is totally unrepresentative of what happens throughout the country 24/7, but many candidates seem to believe these fables.

As for the Thames Valley area, I would suggest that people look deep into the candidates manifesto, to assess their suitability. One very notable candidate from the Right actually has stated that TVP are doing a good job, so he does not intend changing anything, then I wonder what this candidate intends to do for the inflated salary?