News

Vote for your Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner

By Hugh Fort
October 08, 2012

People across Bracknell Forest will be able to vote for their first ever Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner at an election next month.

The poll will held around the borough on Thursday, November 15, and anyone interesting in standing can still register.

The comissioners will be responsible for how crime is tackled in their police force areas and will aim to ensure the police deliver an effective and efficient service.

Anyone interested in standing must be aged over 18, be registered to vote, have 100 signatures backing their candidancy and be able to pay a deposit of £5,000.

Deposits will be returned to people who get more than five per cent of the vote

Some people are not allowed to stand including people who work for the police or a local council, or anyone with a conviction of an imprisonable offence.

The deadline for applications is on Friday, October 19,

Poll cards are issued on Monday, October 22, and the full list of candidates for the Thames Valley will be published the next day.

Polling stations will be announced closer to the time and will be open between 7am and 10pm.

The count will take place on Saturday, November 16.

Timothy Wheadon, the Local Area Returning Offcer for the PCC election and chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, said:

“The election of a PCC on November 15 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 fuure of policing in the Thames Valley."

Anyone wanting to stand can contact the PARO Electoral Registration Office on (01296) 585 807.

For more information on the candidates already standing visit www.choosemypcc.org.uk.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (5)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 5 of 5

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.

JonSHarvey
24/10/2012 at 10:24

So basically someone who has no knowledge or understanding of police work can be voted in as a commissioner?! Just because someone watches every episode of CSI does not make them an expert! No wonder our police officers despair!!

getonwithit
09/10/2012 at 15:59

It would be nice if we'd received some sort of leaflet/leaflets giving us some idea of exactly who is standing. For a job that's supposed to be so important, none of the candidates seem to want to bother. Or do they expect us to vote for them off the cuff as it were? Because I shan't.

Dids, Bracknell
09/10/2012 at 13:16

"The comissioners will be responsible for how crime is tackled in their police force areas and will aim to ensure the police deliver an effective and efficient service." - does this mean 'The comissioners will be responsible for running a police force for the lowest possible cost that they can get away with, while collecting a six-figure salary', or is the job actual a valid role? I understand the need for policemen, but 'commissioners'?