Independent elected West Mercia police and crime commissioner (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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Independent elected West Mercia police and crime commissioner
4:14pm Friday 16th November 2012 in News
By William Tomaney
Winner: Independent Bill Longmore.
WYRE Forest voters picked the winner as Independent Bill Longmore was elected West Mercia’s first police and crime commissioner.
With second and first preference votes counted, Mr Longmore won 71,955, including 21,055 second preference votes, compared to Conservative Adrian Blackshaw’s 54,999, including 5,201 second preferences.
Labour’s Dr Simon Murphy was elminated before second preference votes were counted after no candidate won 50 per cent of the vote in the first round. He received 34,652 votes, the fewest number of first preferences.
Wyre Forest was the first of nine in the West Mercia Police area to declare both first and second preference results, with Mr Longmore receiving 5,414 - 55 per cent - in the district, although just 12.5 per cent of registered electors voted.
Following the announcement, Mr Longmore said: "I am a man of the people and this result shows that people don't want politics in the police."
He will take up his role on Thursday, November 22, when West Mercia Police Authority will cease to exist.
The former Staffordshire policeman, businessman and community sports worker will take on several of the authority’s roles, such as setting the police budget.
Speaking about Mr Longmore's appointment, West Mercia chief constable David Shaw said: "On behalf of the whole workforce at West Mercia Police, we are very much looking forward to working with Mr Longmore.
“We will work to ensure the people of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire continue to get the best possible protection and service from the force.
"The election of a police and crime commissioner is an important development for the public, West Mercia Police and partners, all of whom work together to make West Mercia a safe place to live, work and visit.
"Mr Longmore is already aware of the policing challenges West Mercia faces and I will be discussing these with him in greater detail when he takes up his role.
"I thoroughly look forward to building a positive, professional working relationship with Mr Longmore as we enter an unprecedented period of change, challenge and opportunity."
Comments(20)
FranOb
says...
10:32pm Fri 16 Nov 12
Nobody wanted these elections and most of us did not want a Political appointee!
The only consolation is that Labour got the drubbing it deserved.
Stephen Brown
says...
2:07am Sat 17 Nov 12
Quote: Darren Hughes of the Electoral Reform Society said the PCC elections had started as a flagship government policy, but had descended into a "farce".
What was equally concerning in my opinion is some winning Tory candidates claiming the low turnout was because people didn't understand what it was about. Err, no, it's because people think it was a stupid idea in the first place. In some areas up to 10% of ballot papers were 'spoilt' or had slogans written on them objecting to the election as police politicisation.
"Farce" is about right.
Driving Instructor
says...
5:07pm Sat 17 Nov 12
Poppasmurf
says...
6:07pm Sat 17 Nov 12
Driving Instructor wrote:I don't think the writer of the above quote should be criticising anyone on their English. It's very evident the writer is unable to write properly, never mind speak properly.
For once I agree with Fran Oborski, didnt need one, he is too old,and did you hear his winning speech, I hear children every day talking Queens english better,,god help us, so now we have two Chief Constable's, can see why Mr Picken never stood..
emjaypee
says...
7:09pm Sat 17 Nov 12
Independants are the real victors in this farce despite their qualities or experience. Interesting that some elected PCC's were former police authority members which were appointed to the authority without any democratic mandate.
racerroy
says...
7:58pm Sat 17 Nov 12
Poppasmurf wrote:At least he took the time to voice his opinion on this forum, by the way did you vote!!
Driving Instructor wrote:I don't think the writer of the above quote should be criticising anyone on their English. It's very evident the writer is unable to write properly, never mind speak properly.
For once I agree with Fran Oborski, didnt need one, he is too old,and did you hear his winning speech, I hear children every day talking Queens english better,,god help us, so now we have two Chief Constable's, can see why Mr Picken never stood..
Poppasmurf
says...
8:17pm Sat 17 Nov 12
racerroy wrote:Yes, I voted for the Independent candidate. I was tempted not to vote or spoil my paper but in the end decided not to waste my vote.
Poppasmurf wrote:At least he took the time to voice his opinion on this forum, by the way did you vote!!
Driving Instructor wrote:I don't think the writer of the above quote should be criticising anyone on their English. It's very evident the writer is unable to write properly, never mind speak properly.
For once I agree with Fran Oborski, didnt need one, he is too old,and did you hear his winning speech, I hear children every day talking Queens english better,,god help us, so now we have two Chief Constable's, can see why Mr Picken never stood..
Gobby Robby
says...
5:58pm Sun 18 Nov 12
emjaypee
says...
6:26pm Sun 18 Nov 12
FranOb speaks of a party getting a "drubbing" I think the LibDems got the real drubbing since they failed to gain any PCC's. Could this be a glimpse of their performance come the next general election? Seems the country has not forgiven them for jumping into bed with the tories and going back on pre-election pledges.
Some people will do anything for a slice of power both locally & nationally.
racerroy
says...
7:43pm Sun 18 Nov 12
emjaypee wrote:Here here totally agree with you m8y, I reckon the Lib's have held back the Tory party and also reckon that had we not a coalition Gov the country would be stronger than it is today.
He is still free from the party whip so that's as independent as we were likely to get.
FranOb speaks of a party getting a "drubbing" I think the LibDems got the real drubbing since they failed to gain any PCC's. Could this be a glimpse of their performance come the next general election? Seems the country has not forgiven them for jumping into bed with the tories and going back on pre-election pledges.
Some people will do anything for a slice of power both locally & nationally.
racerroy
says...
7:52pm Sun 18 Nov 12
Gobby Robby
says...
10:29pm Sun 18 Nov 12
racerroy
says...
11:58pm Sun 18 Nov 12
Gobby Robby wrote:I wonder who's confused if all you can do is retype others comments.
Racerroy agrees with emjaypee's 'Seems the country has not forgiven them (LibDems) for jumping into bed with the tories' & then goes on to berate them for holding ' back the Tory party'. Yet another confused blogger on here. 'had we not a coalition Gov the country would be stronger than it is today' - yikes! This means if the government hadn't been 'held back' and was even more right wing maybe we'd be in a treble dip with even less public services! Blimey there's some extreme people out there!
This blog started with regards to a pensioner being appointed as Police Commissioner lets not lose track of that like it or not that is what we got, I personally don't like the result.
FranOb
says...
10:03am Mon 19 Nov 12
Nick Clegg's crazy Coalition agreement and toadying to Cameron has destroyed his Party and their credibility!
Across the country retired Police staff did well in the PCC elections because people did not want Politics involved in Policing!
Gobby Robby
says...
5:33pm Mon 19 Nov 12
walkerno5
says...
9:13pm Mon 19 Nov 12
The current mode for a procession of shiny suited 40 somethings is not producing good politics is it?
harryurz
says...
10:46pm Mon 19 Nov 12
comberton hill questions
says...
2:10pm Wed 21 Nov 12
PCC x41
Conservatives - 16
Labour - 13
Independent - 12
No one therefore appears to have had a drubbing as you put it.
As Stephen Brown states most commentators put the cost between £75 and £100 million not £1 million!!
15% turnout the lowest post war turnout of any election.
So in conclusion Fran your facts are incorrect.
£100 million = 3000 police officers & 41 PCC costing about £100,000 each looking at their costs not just their salary - £4.1 million another 123 police officers. Hmm wonder which people would prefer!!
racerroy
says...
2:58pm Wed 21 Nov 12
comberton hill questions wrote:15% turn out, these elections should have been null & void from the outset.
Fran you seem a little confused regarding the figures: -
PCC x41
Conservatives - 16
Labour - 13
Independent - 12
No one therefore appears to have had a drubbing as you put it.
As Stephen Brown states most commentators put the cost between £75 and £100 million not £1 million!!
15% turnout the lowest post war turnout of any election.
So in conclusion Fran your facts are incorrect.
£100 million = 3000 police officers & 41 PCC costing about £100,000 each looking at their costs not just their salary - £4.1 million another 123 police officers. Hmm wonder which people would prefer!!
racerroy says...
6:47pm Fri 16 Nov 12
Had no idea of who was standing for election.
Would not have voted for a 72yr old who lives outside of Worcestershire.
There are those that will say if you didn't vote then you have no say as to who has been voted...tosh...it would have been good to read something on the candidates that were standing but there was nothing to enable me to at least make a choice
A complete shambles and to think this pensioner could fire our Chief Constable thats a disgrace.
I would prefer it if he just tended to his Veggie patch.