Businessman calls for police & Crime Commissioners to be abolished

A Westcountry businessman has called for the abolition of Police & Crime Commissioners - and the diversion of their high costs to halting the loss of police stations and police officers.

Westcountry voters have received polling cards for a 5th May election of Police & Crime Commisioners (PCCs), but will be left to find out about the candidates for themselves - who will not be revealed until 13th April.

According to David Sturgess, Managing Director of West-based PR firm, Sturgess Van Damme: "This is utter madness!
"In any normal election, we voters will have received communications from all the potential candidates - whether for council, EU, or Parliamentary polls. For the PCC election, we are expected to go to a website (www.choosemypcc.org.uk) to discover who is standing for election.

"Right now, we've received our polling cards, but no details of those candidates are yet available", said Mr Sturgess.

Meanwhile, Westcountry police stations are being closed and the number of serving police officers are being cut.

"We've already seen how these elected PCCs, who are paid more than £100,000 pa, are racking up extra costs for their expenses and support teams. We've seen precious little evidence of them earning that money", Mr Sturgess suggests.

Less than 15% of voters took part in the last round of PCC elections, and Mr Sturgess predicts that this figure will be even lower this May.

"It is already a challenge to get more than 40% of voters to turn out for elections of councilors, MPs, and MEPs - all of whom promote their candidacy ahead of the poll. Given that we don't yet know who is standing for the PCC posts, or have a clear understanding of what they do for their money, I predict a turn-out of less than 10%", he said.

"At a time when funding cuts are seeing police stations closing and the reduction of serving officers, it is difficult to justify the £100,000+ salaries of PCCs, and the cost of their elections and support teams. My latest council tax bill shows a 2% increase in the ‘PCC for Avon & Somerset', while my local police station (Burnham & Highbridge) will now be closed and converted into an administration centre", said Mr Sturgess.

He urges people to sign a Downing Street petition, calling for the abolition of PCCs, and the diversion of those costs to sustain police services: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110651