Polling day

[Aggers]

I went this afternoon to cast my vote in the bye-election for a new Police Commissioner.

The hall in use for voting was completely empty, except for a trestle table, behind which
were seated four bored=looking persons. They perked up when I entered, so I said to them,
"You look bored stiff, would you like me to give you a song?" They perked up immediately,
and one of them said, "We'd love it. We haven't seen a soul for hours." I replied, "I'd better
not, I might forget who to vote for!". I then cast my vote (UKIP, of course) and left them in
their solitary confinement.

There certainly isn't much interest being shown in these Police Commissioners, is there?

What I can't understand is why candidates have political labels. Surely the police should not
have political connections?

[Workingman]

What I can't understand is why candidates have political labels. Surely the police should not
have political connections?

You are not the only one to worry about that particular aspect Aggers. i followed quite a few blogs for the main event and it cropped up time after time.

At least with the old system the police committees could be politically neutral.

[KateLMead]

Don't talk to me about police Commissioners Aggers, they along with the police
Force are a waste of space, my daughter was left the property where she can live for her
Life time by her late partner. (The mother has the same by her late partner).The family are extremely wealthy ruthless and absolutely dishonest,
my daughter Has suffered death threats and has experienced violence from them.
The judge referred to them as habitual liars, when they have kicked off my daughter has called the police
32 times over the last two and a half years, they have ignored my daughters complaints (she has serious health conditions)It has been hell on earth for my daughter, the police are regular visitors to the mothers for tea..
The police Have done nothing, they have ignored the violence toward my daughter both physical and mental.
I contacted the Commissioner cannot meet up with him until October.
Policing standards who I contacted about a month ago they had not even replied
Two days ago I received an apology following my last complaint at their lack of response and their
Lack of communication. Ah!!!! Poor them. "They have a massive work load,are short staffed etc etc etc"
The son is shortly before court for his actions toward his ex girlfriend.he is a violent drug addict and alcoholic.
Police protection? What's that..we shall see..

[TheOstrich]

When they announced we were going to have an election, Mrs O and I were rumbling about it in the kitchen. We were reminiscing about the good old days and Dixon of Dock Green and PC49. Master O was ear-holing outside the door. He came in with a puzzled expression and said "Who is this PC Porcupine?"

So when it came to the by-election, as we have postal votes, we exercised them. I tactically voted Tory to keep Labour out (forlorn hope!). Mrs O and Master O laughed and said that they were considering spoiling their ballots in protest at the outrageous cost of the election.

So, given Aggers voted UKIP and I voted Tory, and also given the huge non-interest in the election as Aggers has indicated, it's quite possible that "PC Porcupine" might be the new Police Commissioner in the West Midlands, having secured just two votes!!

[cromwell]

Imho the post of Police Commissioner was deliberately designed to bring the police at regional level under direct political control. Our Police Commissioner is a long time Labour councillor. His first act on being elected (on a pitifully low turnout) was to advertise for a deputy PCC. The person chosen was another Labour councillor, in fact if memory serves it was the lady who ran the PCC's election campaign! Another high profile recruitment was another Labour councillor from the North East.

It's a joke. The PCC has to take an oath of impartiality when they take office; but as ever with politicians what they say and what they do tend to be very different!
Plus in the unlikely event that our Labour PCC gets voted out, what about all his mates that he has given jobs to in the meanwhile? They will still be there.

[cruiser2]

One of the Police Commissioners near here has been investigated about his expeneses as he is a councillor as well as the PC. Two lots of expenses for non jobs.

[Workingman]

Shocking!

Turnout of 10.3% with the 'winner' getting 50.83% of the votes, or about 5.2% of the overall vote.

Total farce!

[TheOstrich]

Just come on to post that ..... Labour got it, quelle suprise.

They said that in one polling station in Selly Oak, only 7 people turned up to vote!!

[KateLMead]

Just come on to post that ..... Labour got it, quelle suprise.

They said that in one polling station in Selly Oak, only 7 people turned up to vote!!

Pure farce Os. Just look at the numbers who have and still do take early retirement, golden handshake, pension..only to return again as advisors or other positions in the force..