Police commissioner facing motion of 'no confidence' (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Police commissioner facing motion of 'no confidence'

4:14pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Local By William Tomaney

WEST Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner is facing fresh calls to resign after a group of Worcestershire County Councillors put forward a motion of “no confidence” in him.

The council’s Labour group wants Bill Longmore and his deputy Barrie Sheldon to consider their positions and will put the motion before full council at a meeting next Thursday.

Councillors have no power to force the duo out but a vote of no confidence would cause another significant blow to the under-fire PCC.

It was Mr Sheldon’s £50,000-a-year appointment which sparked the move and has caused Mr Longmore to come under fire from politicians and members of the public across the force area. Criticisms included accusations of “cronyism”.

In a joint statement, however, Mr Longmore and Mr Sheldon said they were disappointed by the motion.

“We would ask that people judge us on our achievements over the course of the next three and a half years and not on a period when we have only been in office for about two months,” they added.

The meeting will be broadcast live from 10am on the council’s website at worcestershire.gov.uk