Residents heading to the polls in vote for new 'American-style' police chief
WOULD you like to be able to elect a commissioner in charge of your police force?
Voters will soon be able to hold Humberside Police to account for the first time – under "radical" plans to elect an American-style police commissioner by 2012.
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Chief Superintendant David Hilditch, left, welcomes councillor Steve Beasant with the new title of Deputy Chairman of Humberside Police Authority.
The first commissioner – who could stand for a political party or as an independent candidate – will be responsible for hiring and firing Humberside's chief constable, and setting the force's priorities and its multi-million pound budget.
The move would see the abolition of Humberside Police Authority, whose recently elected vice-chairman has branded the plans as "very dangerous".
The commissioners will replace the chairmen of local police authorities, who are currently appointed.
See today's Grimsby Telegraph for reaction.
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by Mr Copperfield, Gy
Thursday, July 29 2010, 9:10AM
“Josephine i aggree the police are reactive in this day and age, but without suuficient resources to deal with the daily deluge of incidents reported and other resources to be proactive it will not change. Crime is higher now than it was in the past and the nature of policing has changed beyond recognition of years gone by. There are too many retsrictions placed on the police that just tie their hands.
Scrap most of the paperwork, let police make the decison who is charged again, and not the CPS. Change Police and Criminal Evidence Act to allow the police to do what they and us want them to do. Brink back the life on mars days!”
by josephine white, Grimsby
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:32AM
“Grimlander wrote: "It's the PREVENTION, surely, that matters"
Dead right, GL. The Police have become RE-active in stead of PRO-active.”
by walt.a.meattie, GRIMLAND The Tardy
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:01AM
“Pete, Gy - commented on 28-Jul-2010 22:13
Four sus-looking teenagers? how about six of 'em pelting your house with (no doubt stolen) eggs, throwing the wheelie-bin about the garden, hammering on the side the house...? Time taken for police to attend 'in person' (x2)? Two+ months.
maybe somebody's reading our views of police performance and you are the first beneficiary?
and no. I didn't dream it!”
by Pete, Gy
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 10:13PM
“In defence of the police yesterday I rang the 0845 number, got straight though and reported 4 sus looking teenagers and in 3 minutes flat, I had 2 police vans and 2 PSCO's on bikes in the area and questioning them on their actions.
I tip my hat for the fast response.”
by A. Grimlander, Elder, GRIMLAND the wasteland
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 12:01PM
“Come on chaps... back to the thread -- I hope!
Duty of the of the police = the protection of the person and his/her property. As my favourite ferret says, "Shimpool!"
You can't do that sitting in an office juggling figures or 'meeting targets' by so doing. You can't do it it by sitting in a white car on the A18 eating your fish & chips while waiting for somebody to go past too fast.
Surely, chaps, it's time to get back to the nitty gritty of policing -- the PROTECTION of person and property -- NOT the pursuit of people breaking TRAFFIC laws on main highways; NOT the pursuit of people who've ALREADY done the dirty deed.
It's the PREVENTION, surely, that matters, whether it's puking and drinking in the street, assaulting passers-by, verbally or physically, or operating VEHICLES on FOOTways. Stop that when it's HAPPENING and you might get a grip on burglary and housebreaking... like wot it used to be!
Leave chasing motorists to a 'traffic police', except as seen by a bobby on the beat in built-up areas (driving without due care would do -- and a note of the reg-no in the notebook -- as long as justice is seen to be done). It's called PROTECTION of the person and property... NOT ALLOWING IT to happen and then fruitlessly chasing it!
I doubt I'll see it, just once again... but it would be nice, before I die -- IN MY BED, I hope.”