This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/12/police-crime-commissioner-elections-green
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Police commissioner elections will end 'cosy' relations with officials – minister | Police commissioner elections will end 'cosy' relations with officials – minister |
| (10 days later) | |
| The first ever police and crime commissioner elections on Thursday will mark the end of "cosy" relationships between chief constables and their police authorities, the policing minister, Damian Green, has told the Guardian. | The first ever police and crime commissioner elections on Thursday will mark the end of "cosy" relationships between chief constables and their police authorities, the policing minister, Damian Green, has told the Guardian. |
| As the latest YouGov polling data showed a modest rise in the proportion of voters who are certain to take part, to 28%, Green urged everyone eligible to vote and promised that an oath of impartiality will ensure the commissioners will act on behalf of all constituents. | As the latest YouGov polling data showed a modest rise in the proportion of voters who are certain to take part, to 28%, Green urged everyone eligible to vote and promised that an oath of impartiality will ensure the commissioners will act on behalf of all constituents. |
| "They will be significant and important local figures holding the local police force to account and the first port of call for complaints and suggestions about how policing … should be better," he said. | "They will be significant and important local figures holding the local police force to account and the first port of call for complaints and suggestions about how policing … should be better," he said. |
| The commissioners will have the power to hire and fire chief constables and set budgets and priorities for the 41 police forces outside London. The 28% YouGov turnout prediction contrasts with an Ipsos MORI poll finding three weeks ago that it could be a record low of 15%. Green said problems with the Home Office helpline through which people have requested 117,000 copies of the printed candidates' statements had been resolved. | The commissioners will have the power to hire and fire chief constables and set budgets and priorities for the 41 police forces outside London. The 28% YouGov turnout prediction contrasts with an Ipsos MORI poll finding three weeks ago that it could be a record low of 15%. Green said problems with the Home Office helpline through which people have requested 117,000 copies of the printed candidates' statements had been resolved. |
| The minister said his vision for a really effective PCC was someone who would "galvanise all parts of the public sector" to cut crime by keeping people with mental health issues and drug problems out of the criminal justice system. | The minister said his vision for a really effective PCC was someone who would "galvanise all parts of the public sector" to cut crime by keeping people with mental health issues and drug problems out of the criminal justice system. |
| He also attacked a pledge by Labour's Yvette Cooper, who has said she is against any police force partnership with the private sector at any time, describing it as "a very foolish commitment to make" and a "retrograde step" which would tie the hands of PCCs and chief constables. The government will leave such decisions to individual commissioners and forces. | He also attacked a pledge by Labour's Yvette Cooper, who has said she is against any police force partnership with the private sector at any time, describing it as "a very foolish commitment to make" and a "retrograde step" which would tie the hands of PCCs and chief constables. The government will leave such decisions to individual commissioners and forces. |
| The minister indicated that there is unlikely to be a review of the stricter than usual rules on candidates' previous criminal convictions despite the fact that at least four – two Tories and two Labour – have had to withdraw from this week's contests because of youthful convictions. "Now everyone knows what the rules are they will think hard [before they stand] in the future," he said. "The long term conclusion I draw from this is that what we need to resolve is the terrible statistic that one third of young men have a criminal conviction. It is an extremely high proportion of the male population." | The minister indicated that there is unlikely to be a review of the stricter than usual rules on candidates' previous criminal convictions despite the fact that at least four – two Tories and two Labour – have had to withdraw from this week's contests because of youthful convictions. "Now everyone knows what the rules are they will think hard [before they stand] in the future," he said. "The long term conclusion I draw from this is that what we need to resolve is the terrible statistic that one third of young men have a criminal conviction. It is an extremely high proportion of the male population." |
| Green tried to reassure critics that the election of PCCs will not immediately be followed by a wave of Boris Johnson-style sackings of chief constables, as happened with Sir Ian Blair in London. He said police and crime panels would act as the "ultimate backstop", with a two-thirds majority able to stop a commissioner sacking a chief constable. | Green tried to reassure critics that the election of PCCs will not immediately be followed by a wave of Boris Johnson-style sackings of chief constables, as happened with Sir Ian Blair in London. He said police and crime panels would act as the "ultimate backstop", with a two-thirds majority able to stop a commissioner sacking a chief constable. |
| The minister responded to a weekend warning from Sir Hugh Orde, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, that the introduction of the commissioners will create "an inevitable tension" with chief constables over local and national policing priorities. | The minister responded to a weekend warning from Sir Hugh Orde, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, that the introduction of the commissioners will create "an inevitable tension" with chief constables over local and national policing priorities. |
| "Chief constables tell me the worst thing would be a relationship that is too cosy," he said. "The danger, as we have seen in the past, is that if the chief constable and the police authority are too cosy and just act as one then that is when you get problems. Some of the worst problems in policing we have seen have been a result of that. I am struck by chief constables who tell me, 'We don't mind a bit of challenge or tension, what we don't want is a completely cosy relationship.'" | "Chief constables tell me the worst thing would be a relationship that is too cosy," he said. "The danger, as we have seen in the past, is that if the chief constable and the police authority are too cosy and just act as one then that is when you get problems. Some of the worst problems in policing we have seen have been a result of that. I am struck by chief constables who tell me, 'We don't mind a bit of challenge or tension, what we don't want is a completely cosy relationship.'" |
| Green said the history of the police authorities the commissioners will replace "has been on the side of not producing enough challenge to the chief constable, which is actually in the interests of the force itself." | Green said the history of the police authorities the commissioners will replace "has been on the side of not producing enough challenge to the chief constable, which is actually in the interests of the force itself." |
| He said a strategic policing requirement allowed the home secretary to step in if a commissioner "went off the rails" and refused to allow his force to make its contribution to national counter-terrorism or public order requirements. | He said a strategic policing requirement allowed the home secretary to step in if a commissioner "went off the rails" and refused to allow his force to make its contribution to national counter-terrorism or public order requirements. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |