'WHAT ELECTION?'

The Home Office obviously took a leaf out of Tameside council’s book when they planned Hyde’s new ‘Civic Square’ and ran their PCC elections under the assumption that 'if you build it they will come'

The total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner has been confirmed as 13.5%. – Not a great success whichever way you look at it, however we will have to wait until around 4.00 o’clock this afternoon before we know who has been elected to shake-up the police in Greater Manchester!

This pathetic turnout not only reflects the rampant apathy of public opinion, but even more importantly, the anti-democratic way in which this comic election was run. Can any of these newly 'elected' Police and Crime Commissioners truly say they now have a mandate to represent the views of the people?
 

In principles laid down by Sir Robert Peel in 1829, it reads that it is the duty of officers "to seek and preserve public favour, not by pandering to public opinion; but by constantly demonstrating absolutely impartial service to law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual laws, by ready offering of individual service and friendship to all members of the public without regard to their wealth or social standing".

This tradition has, in my opinion, served us well over the last hundred and eighty odd years and in order to retain its legitimacy, the police service cannot, in 2012, allow itself to become politicised.

Unfortunately, with most of the candidates in all 41 force areas running on a political party ticket, I find it hard to believe that political persuasions will play no part!

Of course these people must be accountable, but never political!

Democracy just doesn't work that way, as the turnout has demonstrated all too well!

When will politicians learn - If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it?