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Police and Crime commissioner candidates grilled at Finchampstead hustings

By Jon Nurse
November 09, 2012

Sceptical villagers questioned the need for Police and Crime Commissioners in a lively hustings in Finchampstead.

Voters will take to the polls next Thursday to elect a commissioner for the Thames Valley.

The region’s six candidates were grilled at Finchampstead Memorial Hall last Wednesday.

Event chair Professor Adrian Hobbs CBE said: “The candidates unanimously said to me after it was the best-attended hustings they had been to with the best audience.

“It was a good chance for people to find out what the candidates are like, but I’d say the overwhelming majority of people asked why we were having it [the election].

“If we had a vote there and then I expect a high proportion would have said no.”

Patience Tayo Awe (independent), Barry Cooper (UKIP), Geoff Howard (independent), John Howson (Liberal Democrat), Anthony Stansfeld (Conservative) and Tim Starkey (Labour) are in the running for the Thames Valley PCC.

The PCC role was introduced by the Government to replace existing Police Authorities and it will be responsible for scrutinising – even hiring and firing – the Chief Constable as well as setting force priorities and more.

Prof Hobbs said the audience expressed their dislike at politicising the role of running the police.

Celia May, 59, of Church Lane, Finchampstead, said: “Most people are pretty ignorant about what they are going to vote on.

“As a democratic process it doesn’t seem clever to ask people to vote on a matter they know very little about.

“I thought the candidates were very informative.”

An audience of 70 people filled the hall and candidates had 10 minutes to deliver their points before an open question time.

Labour activist Matthew Dent said: “I’ve been concerned the elections would have a negligible turnout so it was encouraging to see so many people with engaging questions.

“I think it was so well attended because of good work by the Finchampstead Society.

“A low turnout [for the election] could hand it to a candidate who isn’t best for the role.”

Prof Hobbs was impressed with the questions tackled in the hustings, where all the candidates, with the exception of Mr Cooper, stated their opposition to arming the police.

“One issue was people wanted to see was co-operation between the police forces as Finchampstead is located on the boundary of three forces.

“The nearest police station in Hampshire is Yateley, which is probably closer than Wokingham.”

On November 15 76 polling stations will be open across the borough from 7am to 10pm.

More than 19,000 residents have requested a postal vote, which must be returned to Wokingham Borough Council by 10pm on the day of the election otherwise they will not be counted.

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Most recent user comments 13 of 13

I was just hoping in some crazy way that the winning vote was 'spoilt ballot paper'........

I P Freely
09/11/2012 at 15:47

Problem is that if you spoil your ballot paper, your 'vote' will still count towards the percentage turn out. Best not to vote at all - spoilt paper or otherwise - and then the percentage turn out will be lower, the 'winner' will have even less of a mandate and maybe, just maybe, the Govt might think twice.

They are rather good at U-turns!

LarryS
09/11/2012 at 15:26

I will write on the ballot paper about how it is a waste of money etc.

I P Freely
09/11/2012 at 14:39

I too am planning on spoiling my ballot. Is it worth writing a protest messsage on there, or do I simply tick all of the candidates?

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
09/11/2012 at 14:20

I'm going to spoil my ballot paper - I suspect many across the country will too.

This is what happens when you put politicians in charge - they have stupid ideas and force them upon us. They don't live in the same world we do and have no idea how we are affected by their dumb plans and games.

Winstanley, Bracknell
09/11/2012 at 13:51

The best response would be for no-one to vote.

I think it was Martin Salter some years ago who said following a turn out of less than 30% at local elections that the poor turnout was because people were happy with the current situation (haha).

So would a low turnout be treated as apathy or people being content with the current situation.

It's just more bureaucracy.

come on lads
09/11/2012 at 13:24

People in positions of power in public service are too busy enjoying the 'power' to remember to 'serve the public'. You could sum-up the entire situation with one word - 'pleb' - which is why that whole incident was so important/damaging for the government. Because it clearly illustrates the truth of the matter, and the attitude of the 'ruling classes' - they are not meant to rule, they are meant to serve.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
09/11/2012 at 12:30

don't be sad - you see, I'm not the tool you think I am. Not all the time anyway. When it comes to important matters where we're being shafted and fobbed off by our alleged betters I can be deadly serious.

I'm sure the WI will be most gracious and accepting of your kind donation. If you're lucky you'll get a nice Victoria Sponge.

Winstanley, Bracknell
09/11/2012 at 12:17

#winstanley

I am extremely saddened to have to say this but i agree absoloutely with every word of your response and DTs original comment.

We will now see politicians pushing party political dogma to appease their own grandiose ideas at our expense.

I wasn't in Crowthorne last Tuesday as i had to go to Maplins to buy a loop system for the WI.

parlovero, reading
09/11/2012 at 11:19

Well put DT - absolutely agree with you. I've only had one piece of literature about this from the Tory. None of the others have bothered so why should I?

This whole affair is a nonsense and shows our politicians to be the out-of-touch gimps they really are.

The police don't want it and have had no say in it, nor have the electorate. I thought our MP's were meant to represent us - they only represent self interest, party dogma, and more bureaucracy!

Winstanley, Bracknell
09/11/2012 at 11:12

IP, that's what I've done; sent my spoiled postal vote. I object to the creation of more high-level (highly-paid) roles, in which it seems you must have a political affiliation to be successful. We HAVE a police force, and the idea we need to pay so much money to hold votes and pay someone £100k/year to 'decide which crimes to prioritise' offends me. the police know what they're doing; add £100k to their budget and they can hire 4/5 more police officers. THAT would get my vote.

'we must make cuts' - 'we must cut public services' - 'we must cut the police budget' - best hire a set of highly-paid managers then, eh?

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
09/11/2012 at 10:59

Why does the role have to have a politcal bias?

Let the Police get on and Police.

Such a waste of money. Part of me doesn't want to vote then I think I should vote and spoil my ballot paper!

The only ones who seem to be throwing a lot of money at this are the Tories. I got a lovely glossly leaflet from Anthony Stansfeld stating he was going to reduce crime!