Chance to have a say on how police works
This coming Thursday sees Hampshire go to the polls to elect a new police and crime commissioner for the county.
There are four names on the ballot paper this year with all of the main political parties fielding a candidate, plus The Justice and Anti-corruption Party.
It is 12 years now since the coalition government of David Cameron and Nick Clegg scrapped the previous system of police authorities to be replaced by an all-powerful commissioner.
And yet the role does not seem to have crossed into the wider public consciousness despite the best efforts of those who have held the position in Hampshire to raise its profile.
Whoever is successful this week will be tasked with publishing their own Police and Crime Plan within the following weeks.
This document will shape the priorities for the chief constable over the months and years ahead and, as an elected official accountable to the electorate, these should reflect the priorities of the public.
Indeed the opening words of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners website states: “The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing.”
The new PCC will also set the force budget and determine the precept you pay towards policing as part of your council tax.
So anyone unaware of what the PCC does, who is vying to take up the office and what their manifesto is, we will be publishing a special report on the election in next week’s News.
And then take the time to go and cast your vote as this can shape everything from the policing of antisocial behaviour, our roads or whatever you would like to see top the agenda to make your part of the county a safer place to live.
Aside from the police and crime commissioner, there are local elections taking place in all of our councils – this is our chance to make our voices heard.
‘‘ The role does not seem to have crossed into the wider public consciousness