Prescott to run for police commissioner position
LORD Prescott has thrown his hat in the ring to become Humberside Police's first commissioner.
The ex-deputy prime minister and former Hull MP has announced he is putting his name forward to stand as the Labour candidate in November's election.
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Lord Prescott has announced he is to stand as the Labour candidate in November's election for Humberside Police's first commissioner
He has confirmed he intends to stand for the £75,000-a-year directly-elected position, ending weeks of speculation in the national media.
He said: "I want the opportunity to continue my public service to the region with a mandate from the people to protect the community and target criminals.
"I feel that after proudly serving as a local MP for 40 years and as a cabinet minister for 10 years, I have the experience to listen to the public and help be their strong voice in supporting the police and holding them to account ."
Former Hull City Council leader Colin Inglis and recently-retired Humberside Police senior officer Keith Hunter have already submitted their applications for the Labour ticket.
But the entry of the veteran Labour peer into the party's selection race will almost certainly change the dynamic of the campaign.
It comes just days after the Metropolitan Police issued a personal apology to Lord Prescott after a judicial review found the force had failed to warn him he was a victim of phone hacking while he was deputy prime minister.
He said: "During this struggle, I came to believe that there should be greater transparency and accountability of our police.
"The public should have much more of a say in determining the force's priorities and responsibilities."
Lord Prescott's popularity has soared since stepping down from frontline politics.
An outspoken critic of David Cameron, the Coalition Government and journalists and newspapers involved in phone hacking, he is a regular contributor to the social network site Twitter and has 111,212 followers.
Lord Prescott has been awarded £40,000 in damages after News Group Newspapers settled 37 cases in the phone-hacking scandal.
Lord Prescott claimed the previous Labour Government's support for CCTV, antisocial behaviour orders, police community support officers and neighbourhood policing had all helped reduced crime.
He said: "These are achievements I am very proud of.
"That is why, after requests from former constituents and local party members, I have agreed to put my name forward to become the Labour candidate in November's elections for Police and Crime Commissioner for the Humberside Police area.
"If shortlisted to be Labour's candidate, I will spend the next few months touring the region, listening to people across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to determine their needs and concerns.
"They will help draft my manifesto and, if elected Police and Crime Commissioner, shape Humberside Police's policing plan."
32 Comments
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by Johnny Lamb
Saturday, March 03 2012, 11:16AM
“He would not last a day in Humberside...No doughnut shops.
Wasn't he a cop in the fast show?”
by g_ums
Sunday, February 12 2012, 11:27PM
“by WalterMitty1
"by g_-ums
Why do you think my comments have been removed?"
I'm not exactly sure, but it's pretty confusing to read my reference to them now they've gone.”
by davendogs
Sunday, February 12 2012, 6:28PM
“Oh grief. As if the police aren't in dire straits as it is. I thought he was put out to grass being made a LOrd. Oh deary me if this oaf gets any say in things.”
by s_pike
Sunday, February 12 2012, 5:43PM
“No matter what name THE GOOGLER uses, his message is disregarded. For this one he should don a sandwich board and address the people of Humberside with a loud hailer from the Humber Bridge.
Break cover O KEYBOARD GOOGLER, man up and follow in the steps of our public representatives. Oh sorry, I forgot, you can't, cluck, cluck, cluck.”
by WalterMitty1
Sunday, February 12 2012, 4:53PM
“by g_-ums
Why do you think my comments have been removed?”
by mikegearless
Sunday, February 12 2012, 2:42PM
“As an afterthought, why does the Chief constable not direct his force to investigate the allegations of fraud by so many people against the NELC council tax scam.
Do we need to wait for the new commissioner to request the resignation of a Chief constable unable to see the blindingly obvious law breaking taking place on a massive scale within the NELC. Most of the investigation has been done by those exposing the corruption, to make the police work easy!”
by mikegearless
Sunday, February 12 2012, 2:37PM
“by g_ums,
It would be interesting to see if he would have the balls to tackle corruption within the Police force, where the IPCC and Discipline and Complaints section hadn't."
Agreed, perhaps this would test the water before he is elected, to see if he has any views on the NELC corrupt court proceedings and bailiff scams.....clearly the police wont even comment on the alleged fraud.....will Lord Prescott.....if not, he is not worthy of the job!
If he characteristically waded in all guns blazing to expose the Humberside police silence on the scam, he would gain much support.
So what do you think Lord Prescott, are you sympathetic to the council tax payers or on the side of the NELC scam and police non-committal to obvious fraud.....there is enough evidence in these posts below to show clear arrogance and sidestepping of the law by both the council, the bailiffs and the magistrates court?
http://tinyurl.com/3lvdx4b”
by g_ums
Sunday, February 12 2012, 11:06AM
“WalterMitty1,
From the CV you have revealed, I believe he has exactly what is required to fill a non-job for an ex-deputy prime minister, put out to grass on a £70K salary, to which nobody will listen.”
by g_ums
Sunday, February 12 2012, 10:11AM
“I've got an idea for Prescott's first project if he gets in as Police Commissioner.
Sort out the Humberside Police Economic Crime Section's policy on what kind of fraud it considers criminal. For example, it shouldn't cover-up fraud committed by our councils and their bailiffs.
It would be interesting to see if he would have the balls to tackle corruption within the Police force, where the IPCC and Discipline and Complaints section hadn't.”
by kaitanbreeze
Saturday, February 11 2012, 8:15PM
“If he gets the job, will we have to stop calling him "Two Jags" and start calling him "Two Protons" ?
And if you think that Blunderside Police are unfit for purpose now, just wait until the Fat Fool gets his hands on the levers of power ..
You 'ain't seen nuthin' yet !”