So it's an election... an admittedly miserably mishandled one but an election none the less. What are your opinions on the matter? Who did you vote for your first preference? Who did you vote for your second preference? Why?
I'm interested to see what the result will be from TST members
I personally oppose the idea of what I see as politicising of the police, who as an institution are meant to be completely impartial, which I feel would be compromised by the incorporation of this election system. I think we will see the Commissioners making populist judgments to serve their voters, rather than what is genuinely best for the whole public.
I do however concede that the previous system of unelected commissioners had potential for political abuse but rather than embrace that fact, I would rather see some sort of system of regulation which ensured it is being as impartial as possible.
But despite my grievances, I will be voting tomorrow. I will be using my first preference for Ann Barnes, an independent candidate who opposed the introduction of these elections and has put a lot of emphasis in her campaign about not being answerable to party leaders or agendas, which I think makes her a preferable candidate. On top of that, she opposes proposed plans for privatisation and further policing cuts which I also very much agree with.
My second preference vote will be for the Labour candidate. It would have been for the Green Party but much like many areas of the country, they've not filed any candidate. The only reason for this second preference vote is to give my support to the candidate that I feel is closest to my own political views (in this case just picking the lesser evil), if god forbid the independent doesn't win.
I'm interested to see what the result will be from TST members
I personally oppose the idea of what I see as politicising of the police, who as an institution are meant to be completely impartial, which I feel would be compromised by the incorporation of this election system. I think we will see the Commissioners making populist judgments to serve their voters, rather than what is genuinely best for the whole public.
I do however concede that the previous system of unelected commissioners had potential for political abuse but rather than embrace that fact, I would rather see some sort of system of regulation which ensured it is being as impartial as possible.
But despite my grievances, I will be voting tomorrow. I will be using my first preference for Ann Barnes, an independent candidate who opposed the introduction of these elections and has put a lot of emphasis in her campaign about not being answerable to party leaders or agendas, which I think makes her a preferable candidate. On top of that, she opposes proposed plans for privatisation and further policing cuts which I also very much agree with.
My second preference vote will be for the Labour candidate. It would have been for the Green Party but much like many areas of the country, they've not filed any candidate. The only reason for this second preference vote is to give my support to the candidate that I feel is closest to my own political views (in this case just picking the lesser evil), if god forbid the independent doesn't win.
