General Chat

I find this quite annoying. that people are given a vote yet don't use it.

We have just had remembrance day when we say ' For our tomorrows, they gave their today' And 'they died that we may be free'.

Being free, having freedom of speech is what gives us the privilege of voting. I suspect in some countries the Comissioner would be appointed with no possibilty of the ordinary people to have an input. why do we abuse our privilege?

OK so it may not be something we think will interest us. But how do we know until we try it? :-S

I tend to agree with you Ann :-D.

All of our candidates had a profile in the local paper, plus the website. The local news also covered aspects of the election (the Bristol mayor vote was also yesterday and that got most of the coverage). I bothered to read the information available and made my choice accordingly. Trouble with 'democracy' it relies on contribution by all ;-).

A very good point Ann!!
But there will always be those who say "free speech - free choice" and then moan when things are'nt right!!!
One of the main reasons l voted was because l don't want the Police to become privatized .....and that could be on the cards!!!!! Just like the NHS:((((
We voted:-)

jude :-0

Edit....just seen your post Shelia:)
We had 2 leaflets through the door and we also looked on the net. l belong to 38Dgree's who email regularily with info and encourgae us to also let others know.
Libraries would probably have info too if people asked.
jude :-)

well this is the first time I haven't voted and the reason is that in this area there was absolutely no coverage that I saw in the media regarding who was standing for election - I don't have a clue even now

my friend in Gloucester was on duty at a polling station yesterday and only 76 people arrived to vote - for my part it wasn't a case of apathy - had just one of the candidates [presumably there were a few] had made himself known then things might have been different

I agree with Ann Cardiff. We did not vote.
There was no publicity in local papers, let alone anyone appearing in the area.
I did hear something about it on the local radio, but non-of the four candidates was known to me, and all were affiliated to a political party.
Some people still think Derby means the whole shire, and it most certainly doesn't. we are a vast county, and much of it is very rural.
I wonder how often the elected candidate be seen outside the city limits, putting himself about, meeting the people..

Julia in Derbyshire

I agree with you, Ann - every other election, I've gone to vote - even if I write 'none' across the ballot paper.
BUT normally I know something about who I'm voting for.
There has been nothing around here about the candidates, no 'question & answer' sessions in majr towns, nothing through the door (not everyone's on the internet) and very little online.

It would be like me(a non-driver) giving an opinion on the merits of different braking systems in cars - and I wouldn't.

l found this very easily on google......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19509951

jude :-)

Well i voted, but i don't agree with having Police Commissioners, to me just another level of bureaucracy, how long will it be before he has a secretary, then an assistant commissioner so so on.

In our area all the candidates were ex politicians/councillors we all know what a mess of things they can achieve.In fact one candidate lives just down the road from me, i wouldnt vote for him to be in charge of a car wash.

PS when i cast my vote i wrote none of the above

George

Ann, 'they died that we may be free'. that includes free to not vote

If you never voted then you don't have a right to complain about the elected

However I would have voted if i had the freedom to vote against changing the police authorities system and having police commissioners to replacing them

They say it's about being accountable, Well we already have elected people who should be held accountable their called MP's each area has them,

If your not happy with crime in your area then hold your MP to account,

What are we going to vote on next? I'm sure politicians can think of other things they can invent to justify their failure to get a grip, We will be electing a commissioner to replace health authorities next then government can blame them for the failing health care

Created to pass the book whilst giving failed MP's another bite of the cherry (Jobs for the boys)

Roy

The first time in my life I haven't used my vote :-(...many reasons why.

No literature through our door until late yesterday afternoon,but with details of only one candidate....however I did look online.... and I was talking to someone recently who said ' '*****' would be the best person to vote for but I won't bother because I never vote Tory' :-S so maybe lots of folk thought the same way? and stayed away.

To be 'in charge' of hiring and firing of police officers there should be no affiliations to any political party,and the very idea that a candidate ( in Wiltshire) who has won a 7% vote out of a turn-out of 15% will be able to do so is, imo, frankly ludicrous...
and I should think damaging to police forces as it could demoralise.

Yes we have the freedom to vote but where was the freedom to vote FOR a Commissioner ? sorry Ann but I used my privilege not to vote because I'm against the idea.

Mau xx

Reading other internet sites, the general impression is that people didin't know *what* they were being asked to vote for, or *who* they were being asked to vote for.

I have voted in every general election since I was 18, but I did not vote yesterday, one reason being that I didn't feel an extra post at a salary of £75k was needed at the moment ( plus I read that the newly elected would be appointing deputies as well so that is another salary to add on).

My second reason was the sparsity of info on each candidate , the Labour and Conservative candidates gave a very short paragraph online, mainly on whether they would or would not outsource to G4S and the like) .

The Independent actually had a very informative blog and had I voted it would probably be for him.

But the third reason ( having read aforesaid blog) was the sheer area that the 'winner' was expected to have authority over, it being my understanding that the point was to oversee the police budgets/actions/ strategies on a 'local' basis ie taking into account
( or at least having the chance to ascertain) the needs of the 'locals'...I failed to see how someone could represent such a huge disparity of people, covering 3 counties and comprising cities and rural needs in each.

edit, to correct typo, but also to add that with the exception of the independent candidate, who has been a policeman, neither of the other two had any direct experience apparently of policework, only of business and politics ,,, and I suspect that is likely to be the case generally.

The TV debate between candidates for our County implied that the winner could appoint a Deputy, paid for out of their own salary.

Might be right? Might be wrong.

I'm glad I'm not alone then

Only a suggestion but maybe it is because yes, we do have a right to vote, and in many cases after voting, the very things that we voted for have not been adhered to.. What say do we have about this?. Absolutely nothing.
I believe many people feel cheated, and will not risk voting as in reality nobody really knows what they are voting for. I am one of them.
To vote just because you have a democratic right to vote even tho you dont know what you are going to get, is in my opinion, a non starter. We are led to believe we are living in a democratic society, but i very much have my doubts. (that is my own opinion) We are being brainwashed. Strong statement, i know, but that is how i feel.


Sue

I did,nt vote,because I don,t see why I should vote in Yet another Quango, which this Goverment stated they were going to get rid of,I,ve Fought for and on behalf of my Country,and reserve the right not vote for something I don,t like,if it had been for or against,I would have used it.**M**.

just heard on the TV that this fiasco cost over 100 millions pounds!!!

As you say Jude, you googled for it, but how many people are able to do that and why should anyone have to - why wasn't it run in the same way as political candidates are voted for?

I received a voting card and a leaflet on what it was all about but that was it - in a political election I would have received literature from the candidates

"The police commissioners themselves will be overseen by a new panel" ( at a cost of?)

"We have a pot of money" ( how much? )

"Mr Macpherson, a former magistrate and councillor, will now be responsible for controlling police budgets, setting priorities and has the power to hire and fire Chief Constables.

The role is expected to pay up to £100,000 per year.

When asked about his plans for the role, Mr Macpherson said he would be in favour of a “multi-agency approach” to neighbourhood policing.

"“Policing is not just done by police,” he said. “It’s a community issue.”

“What all the political candidates in Wiltshire have been saying is that we have a pot of money and we’re going to commission services using that pot of money; from the police, from voluntary sector, working with local authorities, working with other agencies to reduce crime, to get better value and make Wiltshire a better place to live in.”

Perhaps there should have been a vote on .. "Do we need to elect a Police
Commissioner"?

I think with 85% of the electorate not bothering to vote, it sort of says it all. :-)

Rose, And the band played on. as they say.Plus, I think you missed out a nought. :-D