Rivals go head to head in battle for Police and Crime Commissioner role
Residents go to the polls on November 15 to elect the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. They will take charge of the force budget and priorities and challenge the Chief Constable’s performance. Labour candidate Joy Garner and Conservative Matthew Ellis explain what they will bring to the role
MATTHEW ELLIS
Conservative
FOR me, the role of Police and Crime Commissioner is about new ideas, fresh thinking and bringing in the public's view to make policing in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent more visible, responsive and accountable.
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It's about freeing up officers from burdensome bureaucracy and processes to do what they were trained to do: catch criminals, cut crime and make Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safer.
Above all, in these difficult times, it's about achieving more policing with fewer resources to ensure crime keeps falling. Is that possible? Yes, I'm certain it is.
My background in building a business from scratch, a strong public service ethos and experience of responsibility for a £300 million budget at Staffordshire County Council is important to being an effective PCC.
And with many different organisations playing a part in cutting crime and supporting victims, my experience developing successful coalitions across sensitive public services is also invaluable to ensuring a joined-up criminal justice system that's more effective and better value.
There are those who want to use this election to oppose shrinking budgets but I'm focused on Staffordshire's future and making the most of the money available by dealing effectively with issues that matter to local people.
My priorities include:
Using technology to let police officers be police officers, not stuck behind desks;
Moving resources from detecting crime to preventing it;
Treating victims of crime as people, not just a crime number;
Tougher policing of prolific offenders if they can't or won't reform;
Cracking down on irresponsible licensees, anti-social drinking and behaviour;
Fast and transparent justice with greater use of restorative measures.
I would be a PCC for all of Staffordshire with the experience and determination to ensure we have effective and more visible policing across all parts of our diverse county.
JOY GARNER
Labour
THE public in Staffordshire want a police force which is based in the community and accountable to them.
As a local councillor and Staffordshire Police Authority member I know the importance of community safety.
Neighbourhood policing and police community support officers have been an outstanding success.
It's appalling that the Tory-led Government are putting this at risk as they cut the number of police officers by 20 per cent.
We've already lost 213 officers in Staffordshire and by 2015 a total of 395 will have gone – placing the force in danger of being left with the lowest number of officers since it was established in 1968.
No combination of efficiency savings or changes to working practices can replace that number of bobbies which have been taken off our streets.
Statistics from the police authority show that performance of the force is now declining as officers have been lost.
The way in which security for the London Olympics was put in jeopardy by the failed contract with security firm G4S proved that privatisation carries risks.
I will ensure that policing in Staffordshire remains publicly-run and accountable to the community, unlike the Tories who are happy to hand services to private companies whose only motive is profit.
If I become Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner my priorities will include:
Fighting the Tory-led Government's 20 per cent cut to Staffordshire's Police budget;
Putting victims of crime before criminals and ensuring that victims get the support they need;
Taking seriously the blight of domestic violence;
Working to steer young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour;
Tackling alcohol misuse and its effect on communities;
Taking a hard line against anti-social behaviour by establishing a task force to ensure that victims get a response within 24 hours;
Making sure Staffordshire residents get value for money in their police service.
Comments
by Thomas19
Friday, October 26 2012, 3:17PM
“Perhaps iPad Ellis could explain to the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent why he thinks wasting millions of pounds on gadgets is a good way to spend our taxes?
We need more police on the street catching criminals, not ridiculous gimmicks.”
by CHARRIOT
Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:06PM
“I believe the main reason for no Independent Candidates is the £5000 deposit. It all I am sorry to say stinks.”
by Redtone
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 6:40AM
“I read in several papers this morning that after all their chest beating, the government are caving in and giving the vote to prisoners.
I mention this because you can be damned sure Tory contributors would if Labour were still in power - but also because they are cynically planning to hold back the announcement until AFTER the election of PCCs.
What was it Cameron said... "a different kind of politics"?”
by Nicky_Davis_
Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:14AM
“Well we can't be expected to decide on a few bland soundbites in the Sentinel. Why aren't there any public meetings where people can quiz them? So much for interacting with the public. I haven't been sent any leaflets as yet.
Matthew Ellis has at least in his favour that he puts info on his web:
http://tinyurl.com/8enyqfu
By comparison Joy Garner is pretty vacant:
http://tinyurl.com/8gdl6ps”
by WendyBirks
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 9:34PM
“I am against these Police and Crime Commissioners. I will probably spoil my ballot paper. However, just as a bit of info to other posters. It appears that following the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner the Police Authorities will be abolished. The Police Authorities were made up of members that were chosen by their respective political parties from among the councillors we elect in local elections. We, the electorate, will all get some info on this in the post. I have had mine, it is almost useless for informing you about the implications of having a Police and Crime Commissioner vs Police Authorities. Anyway it seems the Police and Crime Commissioners will be in post for five years (from memory - I've thrown the leaflet away already). In places where there is more than two candidates, electors get two votes, placed in order of preference for two of the candidates (though, of course you dont have to use both votes). I find this a little ironic, as last year, during the run up to the vote on whether we should have Alternative Voting the Tories claimed that, we the electorate, were all too thick to cope with preferential voting! I didn't agree with them then and I don't now. I hope that some institution, say for example a national newspaper, organises some sort of collective spoiling of ballot papers so that the Govt. gets the message that many of us are not happy with having this new system imposed upon us.”
by WilliamJRead
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 6:31PM
“What have North Yorkshire, Dyfed-Powys and Staffordshire got in common?
These are the 3 police forces with only 2 candidates for the post of Police and Crime Commissioner.
Derbyshire and Cheshire each have 5 candidates, West Midlands Metropolitan County has 7, Warwickshire 3, Leicestershire 3 and West Mercia 3. All Staffordshire's neighbouring forces have at least 3 candidates.”
by bemused_stare
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:58PM
“We've just had another example unearthed of what happens when you politicise the Police: the South Yorks Police and their corrupt role in the Orgreave demonstrations during the Miners' Strike. It defies belief - if you are going to have a commissioner at least ensure the candidates are independent!! What's wrong with this sodding country? £70k is it? Laughing all the way to the bank”
by Redtone
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 11:11AM
“There are many Lib Dem voters who are livid about this coalition government. If opinion polls since the General Election are only half right, they ain't going over to the Tories.
The only option for anyone opposed to the idea of these Commissioners is to spoil your ballot paper. The stupid idea is already dividing people along the tired old tribal politics of Tory/Labour.
When it comes to something as fundamental as policing we should expect and demand better.”
by Vale_For_Real
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 10:42AM
“Tunstall2011 said
"However, a local journalist tells me he believes there may have been collusion between Tories, Lib Dems and others to give the Tories a clear run against the Labour Party as its the only way the Tories can win.
If this is true then it stinks to high heaven."
Or if it has just been made up by "a local journalist" then it doesn't.”
by penniner
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 12:25AM
“Labour, Tory, Lib Dem.Three failed parties with no new ideas.I will not be voting.”