Nominations open to be the first Police and Crime Commissioner

Alexandra Gregg • Published 8 Oct 2012 13:55 1 Comment

RESIDENTS across Bracknell Forest will be able to cast their vote for their first ever Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) next month.

The election will take place at polling stations across the borough on Thursday, November 15, 7am-10pm, with votes being counted the next day.

The winner of the poll will get £85,000 a year and be accountable for how crime is tackled in the area and will ensure the police deliver an "effective and efficient " service, being responsible for its budget and having the power to hire and fire a chief constable. Elections for the commissioner role will be held every four years.

Timothy Wheadon, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council (BFC), said: "The election of a PCC will be the biggest change in how the police service is structured for many years.

"Everyone who is registered to vote will have the opportunity to exercise their vote and have their say on the future of policing in the Thames Valley."

Nominations for the Thames Valley PCC election are now open and completed nomination forms must be sent to the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) no later than noon on Friday, October 19.

Nominees must be aged 18 or over, registered to vote, have 100 signatures backing their candidacy and pay a deposit of £5,000. Deposits will be returned to those candidates who get more than five per cent of the votes cast.

People who work for the police or one of the local councils, or have ever been convicted of an imprisonable offence, cannot stand.

Those who have already announced that they will be running in the Thames Valley PCC election are:

.:. Patience Tayo Awe - Independent

.:. Professor John Howson - Liberal democrat

.:. Khan Juna - Independent

.:. Anthony Stansfeld - Conservative

.:. Tim Starkey - Labour

.:. Martin Young - independent

To put yourself forward call the PARO Electoral Registration Office on 01296 585807.

The full list of candidates for the election will be published on Tuesday, October 23.

Registered voters will receive their poll cards and voting information on October 22. Those who cannot vote need to complete a postal vote form and return it

to the BFC electoral team by 5pm on Wednesday, October 31.

For more information about the elections go to www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/elections

Will you be voting next month? What do you think? Will it make police more accountable or will it just be a waste of money?

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This article appeared in Bracknell News 08 Oct 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  JonHarvey
  6 posts
  Oct 24, 08:40
  Report comment

  Imagine this: you are about to appoint someone to a new job. This job will require the person to build trusting relationships with many customers & colleagues. The person will be handling lots of confidential and sensitive information. The job will need someone who is extremely well organised. This person will need to be trusted by large numbers of the public.
  
  You selected a shortlist and at the interview, and you are inclined towards one person. Then you look at his application form again and realise that the facts he has given about himself are not consistent. They are small details really, but the statements he makes just do not add up to a coherent story about the current or previous jobs he has held.
  
  This makes you wonder whether to appoint this person.
  
  Do you…?
  
  This is not far from what could be happening with this election for the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner.
  
  I have researched the background of Anthony Stansfeld and found that by his own declarations he both is and is not currently chairman of a company. The name of the company that he may currently be chairman of varies between his West Berkshire Council register of interests, the register of interests for Thames Valley Police Authority and his LinkedIn account. There are other inconsistencies too and all the information (with evidential support) can be found here: http://ajustfuture.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/anthony-stansfeld-facts-do-not-add-up.html
  
  Are these some minor inconsistencies arising from being just a bit too rushed perhaps? Is he just not a ‘details person’? Or does this make you wonder about his credentials to occupy high political office?
  
  It is your choice… it is your vote.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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