Former Independent MP for Tatton Martin Bell has given his backing to Sarah Flannery as Independent candidate for Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Speaking at the official launch of Sarah's campaign on Sunday, 16th September, Martin described Sarah as "a bundle of Independent-minded energy".
Martin met Sarah in 1997 when he launched his successful General Election campaign.
He said "I quickly became aware of certain people who were doing good in their community and no-one did more good than Sarah.
"You couldn't possibly have a better candidate for Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner."
Announcing her Seven Steps to policing in Cheshire, Sarah said: "The job of Police and Crime Commissioner is one that is best served by someone completely free of party politics.
"Do we want parties extending their arthritic grip on areas where they've no right to operate?
"As an Independent I come with a cast iron guarantee that I'll put people and not a party, at the heart of policing. And as a symbolic gesture, that's one of the reasons why we're here at Darnhall Village Hall as it stands at the heart of Cheshire."
The election for the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) will take place on Thursday 15th November. Standing against Sarah is Conservative candidate John Dwyer, who retired 11 years ago as Assistant Chief Constable of the Cheshire Constabulary, and Labour candidate John Stockton who has served as a Labour Councillor for ten years.
John Dwyer 6 has produced a six point plan for Cheshire:
- Increase the number of Special Constables to 1000-aiming to have a Special Constable in every town and village.
- Deliver better ways of working-reducing bureaucracy and returning police officers to our streets.
- Zero tolerance of yobbish behaviour-bringing to justice the small minority who blight our lives, our Cities, towns and villages.
- Driving down crime-through a combination of crime prevention and crime reduction strategies, building on the partnership approach which is already proving successful.
- Reducing the number of serious injuries and fatalities in road traffic collisions-by adopting a zero tolerance of driving under the influence of drink and drugs and using community intelligence to target offenders.
- Making himself readily available to the people of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington-so that they can share their concerns directly with him and influence the way their areas are policed.
Sarah Flannery's seven steps to policing in Cheshire are:
- I'll be the people's advocate, Independent of any party politics, with links with every town and parish council across Cheshire to make sure I know your views.
- I'll support efficient and effective policing through supporting the police service and ensuring a joined-up approach to working with other agencies and partners.
- I'll reduce crime by being focussed on more visible police presence, detection rates, re-offending, anti-social behaviour and dealing effectively with offenders.
- I'll deliver value for money by supporting what works well and exploring resourceful commissioning that contributes to crime-cutting without sacrificing public safety for profit.
- I'll improve accountability and public confidence by publishing regular updates on how your needs are being met - and being honest about what can and can't be done.
- I'll provide the best possible service for victims of crime by working with the Criminal Justice System and voluntary groups.
- I will represent the views of the young people of Cheshire by exploring opportunities for a Youth PCC, backed by a Youth Police and Crime Panel.
John Stockton is campaigning in Cheshire on five key pledges:
- Standing up for communities against the Tories 20% cuts to policing and the loss of nearly 250 police in Cheshire by 2015.
- Keeping police on the beat with neighbourhood policing; not handing over responsibility to private companies or leaving it just to PCSOs.
- Backing a strong and swift response to antisocial behaviour. Victims should be able to get a response within 24 hours.
- Being tough on crime and the causes of crime. I will work in partnership with the police, local people and councils to tackle and prevent crime.
- Protect the police from political interference. I will set the strategic direction for policing, but will not interfere in operational matters, which is the right and proper duty of the Chief Constable.
Photo: Former Tatton MP Martin Bell with Sarah Flannery, Independent candidate for Cheshire PCC. Courtesy of Juno Photographic.
Comments
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Martin Bell supporting an Independent candidate? Outrageous. You are right about the support Alistair Campbell arranged for Martin in 1997, though.
However I think the new role of Police Commissioner is already expanding and the Commissioner will be a job for an experienced person who understands the Police and the public delivery of safety. That is why I will be working for John Dwyer, a former Asst Chief Constable who will deliver good policing to Cheshire and East Cheshire in particular. My fear is that the wrong Commissioner will spend all the Cheshire East money in the wrong areas, leaving Wilmslow and Alderley Edge with inadequate cover.
I agree with Frank, I think the role is expanding and will do so more over time, and I want someone who is going to concentrate fully on the job in hand not point scoring over the parties politics.
It would be interesting to have a field of Independent candidates from whom to choose, who would then be elected (or otherwise) on their merits, rather than on the colour of their rosette. The irony, I suspect, is that then even fewer residents would bother to vote than the 18% who are predicted to turn out in this election.