*Brian Blake,a former Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police Officer with three decades service with Devon and Cornwall Police and thirteen years service with the Ministry of Defence Police.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Copper Brian Blake selected as Liberal Democrat Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate|url=http://torbaylibdems.org.uk/2012/09/20/ex-copper-brian-blake-selected-as-liberal-democrat-police-and-crime-commissioner-candidate/|publisher=Torbay Liberal Democrats|accessdate=20 September 2012}}</ref>
*Brian Blake,a former Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police Officer with three decades service with Devon and Cornwall Police and thirteen years service with the Ministry of Defence Police.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Copper Brian Blake selected as Liberal Democrat Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate|url=http://torbaylibdems.org.uk/2012/09/20/ex-copper-brian-blake-selected-as-liberal-democrat-police-and-crime-commissioner-candidate/|publisher=Torbay Liberal Democrats|accessdate=20 September 2012}}</ref>
*Brian Greenslade, Former Chairman Devon & Cornwall Police Authority, Former Liberal Democrat Devon County Council Chairman and now Resources Chair and Board Member APA — standing as an Independent.<ref name=Con />
*Brian Greenslade, Former Chairman Devon & Cornwall Police Authority, Former Liberal Democrat Devon County Council Chairman and now Resources Chair and Board Member APA — standing as an Independent.<ref name=Con />
Revision as of 17:50, 20 September 2012
Elections of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales are direct elections in each police area of England and Wales scheduled to take place on Thursday 15 November 2012,[1][2] having been put back from the originally planned date of May 2012[3] in order to secure the passage of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 through the House of Lords.[4] The Government considers the elected Commissioners to have a stronger mandate than the " unelected and invisible police authorities that they replace".[5]
Police and Crime Commissioner elections will be for 41 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales;[6] only the City of London Police and Metropolitan Police will not be involved (the elected Mayor of London is classed as the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Area, while the Court of Common Council will serve the role for the City Police[7]). The election will take place using the supplementary vote system with voters marking the ballot paper with their first and second choice of candidate. If no candidate gets a majority of first preference votes, the top two candidates go on to a second round when second preference votes are allocated to them to produce a winner. This is the system used to elect London's mayor.[8]
A dedicated website will be launched providing information on all candidates[9] from which voters can request hardcopy information leaflets printed to order.[10][11]
All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in England and Wales (except London) who will be aged 18 or over on Thursday 15 November 2012 are entitled to vote in the PCC elections.[12] Those who are temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) can still vote in the PCC elections.[13] Those who are registered to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who has a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) are entitled to vote in the PCC elections at each address, as long as they are not in the same police force area.[14]
The deadline to register to vote in the PCC elections is midnight on Wednesday 31 October 2012, though anyone who qualifies as an anonymous elector has until midnight on Thursday 8 November 2012 to register.[15]
Electoral Commission
On 11 September 2012 the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog in the UK, announced it will run a public awareness campaign from Monday 22 October 2012 until polling day 15 November 2012. A booklet will be sent to every household in England and Wales with factual information on the PCC elections. The Commission has also published a briefing note setting out the steps that need to be taken to ensure the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are well run. [16]Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission said:“While we don’t agree with the decisions taken by the Government about how to make people aware of these elections, it’s now time to focus on making the arrangements work for voters."[17]
Party funding
The Liberal Democrats Federal Executive Committee voted against providing funds for regional parties who wished to stand candidates.[18] The Labour Party initially considered not fielding candidates under party colours in favour of independent candidates, claiming that running candidates would politicise police forces.[19]. However the Labour Party, subsequently changed its position, agreed to let its candidates stand as Labour candidates and is also funding its candidates’ £5,000 deposits.
In contrast the Conservative Party Central Office is not providing any funding for Conservative candidates,leaving them to either fund their own deposits out of their own pockets or be funded by local Conservative associations.The deposits will be returned to those who get at least 5 per cent of the vote.[20]
Bob Ashford — was the Labour candidate.[21][22], however he stood down on the 8th August due a conviction he received when he was 13[23][24] and replaced with Dr John Savage, a businessman who chairs a local NHS hospital trust.[25]
Cllr Pete Levy — is the Liberal Democrat candidate.[26]
Cllr Ken Maddock, former leader of Somerset County Council — is the Conservative candidate.[27][28]
Brian Blake,a former Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and Ministry of Defence Police Officer with three decades service with Devon and Cornwall Police and thirteen years service with the Ministry of Defence Police.[35]
Brian Greenslade, Former Chairman Devon & Cornwall Police Authority, Former Liberal Democrat Devon County Council Chairman and now Resources Chair and Board Member APA — standing as an Independent.[27]
Tony Roberts, Newark and Sherwood District councillor will now be the Conservative candidate after the former leader of Bassetlaw District Council, Mike Quigley, pulled out due to a "minor offence" commited 44 years ago.[54]
Derek Barker, former chief executive of Conwy Council, is the Conservative candidate. [69]
Richard Hibbs, a Llandudno businessman who has campaigned against having political candidates or candidates with prior police connections standing in the PCC election is an Independent candidate.[70]
Tal Michael, son of Alun Michael — former chief executive of North Wales Police Authority is the Labour candidate.[21][29]
Elections in England