Member Article

Scrapping PCCs would be a backwards step

A North East business leader believes Labour plans to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) is a knee-jerk reaction and a backwards step for democracy.

David Cliff, Managing Director of Wearside-based Gedanken, is a management consultant and researcher currently working with a number of PCCs.

He said: “Yvette Cooper’s announcement that PCCs would be scrapped in favour of an unelected system, much like the Police Authorities the PCCs replaced looks like an effort to capitalise in particular upon the bad feelings generated by the scandal, which led to the South Yorkshire commissioner’s resignation.

“To scrap the whole system, which isn’t even two years old, is an overreaction. The situation in the Rotherham scenario didn’t even relate to the individual’s role as a PCC, or the position itself, but was the result of apparent failures in a past role.

“With PCCs, the public get a chance to elect the candidate of their choice every four years and whilst there may need to be better mechanisms to make an incumbent more accountable in term, there are many other lacklustre public positions for which the public have no veto whatsoever. Yes, the PCC system is new and, as with such things, occasionally it may seem chaotic, but that is part of the process of real change for the good of tackling crime and disorder and encouraging a more accountable, community-centric police force, not from playing safe and tinkering with the status quo.

“Rather than rubbishing the new system, the focus should be on making sense of the role and ironing out the early difficulties as they arise. There should also be a focus upon encouraging more candidates who are not backed by the political parties and who can engage the public without the negativity and party bias which can come with such ties.

“Yes, there was a low turnout at the first elections, but with the exception of the Scottish referendum, elections typically see low voter numbers. Although the PCC election turnout was particularly low, it had not at that point entered public awareness as much as it yet may. In any event, it was 15% of the population voting, more than we ever saw for Police Authorities, which used co-opted members elected through other political processes.

“There should also be a focus on supporting the management and development needs of the PCCs, which is why I am pleased to see a number of highly pro-active Commissioners engaging with my research and helping to identify what can be done.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gedanken Ltd .