Don't forget to vote for Avon and Somerset's new Police and Crime Commissioner

8:00pm Friday 9th November 2012 in Somerset By Newsdesk

Don't forget to vote for Avon and Somerset's new Police and Crime Commissioner Don't forget to vote for Avon and Somerset's new Police and Crime Commissioner

NEXT week residents in the Avon and Somerset policing area will go to the polls to vote for the area's first Police and Crime Commissioner.

On Thursday, November 15, polling stations will open ready for people to vote for a new directly elected person to oversee Avon and Somerset Police and ensure the criminal justice system is efficient and effective.

You can find out about the individuals standing for the role by visiting www.choosemypcc.org.uk.

An information booklet about voting on November 15 has been produced by the Electoral Commission www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

Comments(19)

FreeSpeech? says...
8:34pm Fri 9 Nov 12

Complete waste of time & money, we won't see any difference here in Taunton as most of the finances & resource's get spent in Bristol. Won't even bother voting.

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Useacarpark.com says...
9:00pm Fri 9 Nov 12

Just vote for anyone but ken

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Mi_Coc says...
7:41am Sat 10 Nov 12

Useacarpark.com wrote:
Just vote for anyone but ken
I agree! Anyone but maddocks

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chachacha27 says...
7:58am Sat 10 Nov 12

Just heard on the news, this is an £85,000 post. If only I had known that earlier, I would have applied myself!!!

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Mi_Coc says...
9:08am Sat 10 Nov 12

65-100 why taunton needs the 85 bracket i dont know. Supprised browne didnt fancy the pay rise but i think free kitkats and morgage interest payment on his expensea mus be the deal breaker that and the fact the role involves being in taunton which is just the only place daft enough to vote for him: he was unsucessful in his preivous run for mp.

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johnbks says...
9:40am Sat 10 Nov 12

Like many others I am opposed to the appointment of these commissioners. Rather than not voting it seems to me that a more positive way to express my opposition is to submit a spoilt ballot paper - no trouble if you postal vote. At least spoilt ballot papers are counted. If there were enough it would destroy what is already bound to be a very dubious mandate. Perhaps someone should start a twitter campaign?

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Old Phucker says...
10:12am Sat 10 Nov 12

Vote for someone to "ensure the Criminal Justice system is fair and effective"????. There is no justice in the UK, as all your Gazette readers already know. Criminals are rarely prosecuted, as prosecution costs money. If they have assets that can be legally confisticated, there is a possibilty of , unless the criminal knows how to wriggle out of it (know what I mean Then again, the Zoyland Clan are all preparing to run, maybe their game is up?.

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Thurza says...
3:49pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Before I vote I like to know about whom I am voting for, I had to look online to find out about the Candidates who were standing for Election. I have not received any communication from any of them.

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Chaoscurran says...
6:56pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Hugely important that everyone votes!
If you think you get a rubbish service from the Police, then vote in a commissioner you think will make a difference. If we get a mayor Giuliani type character, they will "kick arse" and sort things out.
Don't waste your vote and winge later

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tom norman says...
7:01pm Sat 10 Nov 12

mine went in the shredder the day it turned up

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Old Phucker says...
7:37pm Sat 10 Nov 12

What a load of bullocks.

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souwesterly says...
10:57am Sun 11 Nov 12

I've no idea what the actual figures will be, but I'd guess that the 'turnout' is liable to be perhaps 20% or less.
So how can someone justifiably become an "elected official" when only one in five place a vote - and probably only just over half of them will actually vote for the winner.
A complete travesty - far better solved by dropping names in a hat - certainly far cheaper.....and what do we need another fat cat for?
I will not be voting and I've yet to find anyone who will. I agree that apathy won't sort this mess out - but nor will voting sort it.

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andy-sharman says...
2:31pm Tue 13 Nov 12

It concerns me that there is this air of apathy towards PCCs or the CBA excuse being expressed by some on this forum.

While I support individuals exercising their democratic rights in choosing whether to vote or not to, this is our opportunity to influence the direction of the police service and ensure that the needs of our communities are at the heart of any future policing strategy.

With Bristol voting for their elected Mayor at the same time as the PCC, there is a real risk that we will end up with a commissioner elected by Bristolians with a Bristolian agenda.

I hope that all get out and vote for the candidate they feel would be best for the job, regardless of their affiliations and elect a commissioner who will deliver the best results for Avon & Somerset.

Finally, SWBAC has produce a PCC briefing for businesses which can be found at, if you wish to:

http://www.swbac.org
.uk/htm/n20121109.64
0176.htm

Happy voting!

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FreeSpeech? says...
3:32pm Tue 13 Nov 12

andy-sharman wrote:
It concerns me that there is this air of apathy towards PCCs or the CBA excuse being expressed by some on this forum.

While I support individuals exercising their democratic rights in choosing whether to vote or not to, this is our opportunity to influence the direction of the police service and ensure that the needs of our communities are at the heart of any future policing strategy.

With Bristol voting for their elected Mayor at the same time as the PCC, there is a real risk that we will end up with a commissioner elected by Bristolians with a Bristolian agenda.

I hope that all get out and vote for the candidate they feel would be best for the job, regardless of their affiliations and elect a commissioner who will deliver the best results for Avon & Somerset.

Finally, SWBAC has produce a PCC briefing for businesses which can be found at, if you wish to:

http://www.swbac.org

.uk/htm/n20121109.64

0176.htm

Happy voting!
Excuse me but where exactly have you been living for the last two decades?
Your comments about Bristol electing the commissioner just about fits in with the thoughts of every level headed council tax payer in Somerset that Bristol already saps most of the funds paid to A&S Police through their allocation of council tax & electing a Commissioner will not change anything & from what I've seen the candidates standing aren't worth a second look.

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andy-sharman says...
4:37pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Is this not why we need to ensure the PCC is elected with a strong mandate from Somerset voters?

If so, the only way to achieve this is by going out and voting.

Currently around 41% of the policing budget is spent on 27% of the population within the force area.

This imbalance needs to be addressed but by not participating in this election, would you not be permitting this imbalance to continue?

Democracy can only work if we engage.

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tom norman says...
6:57pm Tue 13 Nov 12

just like our polititions they want your votes but wont stand up for you only there party and as soon as the elections over you dont see them till the next time they want to con you into voteing ,i dont call that democracy ,also then if they get into trouble and have to leave it cost us a fortune to get rid of them,id rarther not have them in the first place

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FreeSpeech? says...
8:40am Wed 14 Nov 12

tom norman wrote:
just like our polititions they want your votes but wont stand up for you only there party and as soon as the elections over you dont see them till the next time they want to con you into voteing ,i dont call that democracy ,also then if they get into trouble and have to leave it cost us a fortune to get rid of them,id rarther not have them in the first place
Totally agree Tom, once in they do as they please or as their party dictates & I'm afraid if that's what they call democracy then democracy stinks.
You only need look at the EU in/out subject to see they don't wish to give us a democratic vote on the issue.

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tom norman says...
10:29pm Wed 14 Nov 12

how come this is more a politital election than electing a police commisioner,do we rearly want the police run this way by differant political partys and the government giving more cash to the police forces run by there people like they do to the councils where there run by torys exc ,
it all stinks

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Samej1 says...
7:31am Thu 15 Nov 12

tom norman wrote:
how come this is more a politital election than electing a police commisioner,do we rearly want the police run this way by differant political partys and the government giving more cash to the police forces run by there people like they do to the councils where there run by torys exc ,
it all stinks
Spot on, this should be an apolitical role and the high deposit required has all but shut out the richest of independents.

The lack of information from the candidates is shocking - this doesn't seem like a democratic election to me, when you have to search the internet and news sites to get some kind of idea what their 'policies' are.

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