Saturday 17 November 2012

The Police Commissioners

What a farce.

For the first time in my life I went in to the voting booth and deliberately ruined my ballot paper. Instead I wrote across my paper:

"This is not democracy in action"

For the rest of the morning I felt miserable and guilty that I had thrown away something precious.

Now, don't any dud police commissioner dare raise his or her voice other than to demand a proper election. One were the public is well informed about what it's all about. One that is done when the rest of the community will be voting .

This kind of behaviour on the part of the government encourages the rest of us to turn our backs on politicians and democracy. So what lies ahead?

Anarchy ?


5 comments:

Gladys said...

Having taking the trouble to find out more about Police Commissioners and their role in society, and who was standing in the area, I had no hesitation in voting. The fact that we have the democratic right NOT to vote makes it all the more compelling to do so.
Some years ago, I was in High Carley hospital when it was time to vote. I got permission to leave my sick bed and go to the polling station. Women had to fight to get the vote. I have no intention of letting their sufferings be in vain.
Actually I think it a good idea and, in my view, only good can come of it. People are quite willing to condemn the Police for various actions, now we have someone to complain to if it became needful. I am NOT anti-police. On the whole they are a grand lot of men and women. Personally, I have always found them helpful.

Geoff Dellow said...

I agree with you Gladys. It is a good idea having a PCC.

"If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well" is a saying that I've always taken on board.

This job was done very badly which made me very angry and led me to do something outrageous in protest.

To start with why couldn't the vote have been next May at the time of local elections?

Why couldn't we have had a documentary illustrating how it can work well? Why weren't we sent literature to explain and examine?

I'm trusting the the Electoral Commission will quosh the whole procedure. I've also signed the "Unlock Democracy" petition.

Gladys said...

Certainly it could and SHOULD have been done much better. In some ways it was a bit of a farce but what is done is done. It will go ahead and only time will tell how well it works. My only concern was that politics were being dragged into it. Another cosh to hit the government with?
Whatever.
I hope we will get less complaints filed against the Police but rather certain excesses brought under control. I think we have a fantastic police force, but, as in all walks of life, there are a few that can drag others into disrepute.
We had a choice to vote — better than being appointed by the Police themselves. (For their own sake)

A.R. said...

New police commissioner Richard Rhodes first priority ( see Evening Mail ) is to build a new police station in Barrow. Well that'll help !

Geoff Dellow said...

I'm not very good on sarcasm as I have this cincept that people express their view honestly and seriously but I suspect this is humour. I very important part of surviving a sociey that charging downhill at a frightening rate. I sincerely believe I need a large dose of it - what do you take Allen? Brussel Sprouts or are they only good for farting - now that can be funny.