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Merseyside's
New Police and Crime Commissioner
ON 16 November 2012,
Labour's Jane Kennedy is elected as Merseyside's 1st Police and
Crime Commissioner (PCC). She will now be one of the
Government's 41 new PCC out of the 43 forces in England and
Wales, on a paid salary of £85,000. The mandate for the PCC's is
to help improve local relationships through building confidence
and trust. Also, the PCC's will be expected to help the Police
to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient Police
service. The role also involves hiring or removing the Chief
Constable. This means the PCC roles are probably one of the most
influential roles in public office, within England and Wales.
Shockingly, the turnout for the election was exceptionally low
and many did not realise it was taking place, or did not
understand what it was about. The turnout on Merseyside was just
12.9% of the electorate (full results below). On Merseyside,
Jane Kennedy, won 56.2% of first preference votes, that's 70,884
of the 126,171 total votes cast. Nationally the PCC election had
just 15% of the voting population going out to vote. Has this
effort to make the Police more accountable become a major
embarrassment to the Government? Only time will tell. Even Jane
Kennedy, joined many other voices, including many of the other
Merseyside PCC candidates, in attacking the handling of the
election and its build up, or as they put it:- "Lack of
build up." In Jane Kennedy's victory speech, she told
the press that:- "It is an election that probably none of
us wanted, but I do want to thank all of those who have voted,
despite the low turnout. I appreciate their commitment to
democracy in what is an important election." Later she
added in an interview with us that:- "I could not
understand why this government has put such an important
election on in such a haphazard way. The election has cost in
the region of £100 million, and when councils and police forces
are facing cuts. I am also shocked that this money could have
funded around 3,000 front line Officers. Both parties,
Conservative and the Lib Dems need to take note of this highly
embarrassing election and see it as a warnings sign. Personally,
I am determined to build a good relationship with the public and
help the Police and community; I have now been elected to serve,
as effectively as possible. I believe that if you can forge
strong and real partnerships between agencies, like the Youth
Justice Service and the Prison Service, the faith organisations
and groups, and the voluntary and community sector, you can
overcome the tough challenges ahead." You can watch are
interview with Jane Kennedy and our interview with the only
independent to stand, Kiron Reid, who came 3rd. Paul Johnson,
Chief Executive and Treasurer of Merseyside Police Authority,
which has now been replaced by a PCC, said:- "On behalf of
myself and my colleagues, I would like to offer my
congratulations to Jane Kennedy and I look forward to working
with her to ensure the communities of Merseyside have a strong
voice that represents their views on Policing and holds the
Chief Constable to account." To see our video interview
with Jane Kennedy and Merseyside's only not politically
sponsored candidate, Kiron Reid, who came 3rd, please click on
here now. To see
more photographs taken at the event, please click on
here now.
Email your views on this topic to our newsroom via:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
More information why not
visit:- Merseyside-PCC.co.uk;
Liverpool.gov.uk;
Twitter;
Facebook;
MerseysidePCC.info;
PoliceCrimeCommissioner.co.uk.
What is
going on here then?
FIND out about the 2012
Merseyside Police Anti Drink Drive campaign in next weeks issue.
What a racing team and this photo has to do with it.
Also keep an eye out for the posters heading to shops and clubs
near you!
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