This Thursday (15th November) will witness the first ever elections across the country for Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC’s). Their purpose will be to represent each county. According to the Home Office the aims of the PCC’s are to ‘ensure the policing needs of their communities are met as effectively as possible, bringing communities closer to the police, building confidence in the system and restoring trust.’ More about the role of the PCC.
Dorset Eye contacted the four candidates who have put themselves forward to represent Dorset. They are Andy Canning (Liberal Democrat); Nick King (Conservative); Rachel Rogers (Labour) and Martyn Underhill (Independent). They have all agreed to be interviewed by each other.
We wanted to use a much more innovative approach than is the norm because we believe that it would enable the candidates to propose their own questions and therefore to be more proactive in the interview process and also to be a much more interesting perspective for the reader. Each candidate was allowed 5 questions.
The interviews will be published, individually until Monday 12th November (exclusive of Sunday). They will then be published together on Wednesday 14th November – the day before the election.
In today’s interview Martyn Underhill is interviewed by Rachel Rogers.
RR. In an article dated 3 July, the Bournemouth Echo stated that you
wanted “civilian staff and PCSOs to be sacrificed before police
officers”. In the light of the Government’s 20% cuts to policing
budgets, do you maintain that this is a good strategy for ensuring
public safety?
MU. No I don’t, the quote wasn’t a fair reflection of what I said to be fair. I was talking about the fact that PCSO’s were being cut less than Police Officers, and I do feel that the cuts should be 50/50, if we have cuts at all…PCSO’s are a crucial part of the Police Family, and I intend to protect them. Like you I feel the 20% cuts are excessive, and I am determined to fight for more funding from the Governmentto increase the amount of PCSO’s. I want a bigger share of the “pot” given to Police Forces nationally, Dorset is treated unfairly, because the funding formula is wrong.
RR. Item 3 of your manifesto focusses on combatting binge drinking in
Bournemouth and on improving anti-social behaviour in Boscombe. You
have also talked about dealing with Bournemouth’s “stag and hen”
culture. There is both binge drinking and anti-social behaviour in
other parts of Dorset and indeed another town which is a popular “stag
and hen” venue . What plans do you have to tackle these issues
outside Boscombe/Bournemouth/the conurbation?
MU. I am aware of the issues in Poole and Weymouth, as well as Bournemouth, I intend to try an approach in Bournemouth, and if successful, extend it to both other towns.I feel that a multi-agency approach is needed to ensure that we get the “same sex drinking”culture in hand, the public keep telling me it has gone to far. Some issues really need Government intervention though, the whole issue of “pre-loading”on cheap supermarket booze doesn’t help.
I am aware of the Weymouth stag/hen issue too! We need to prevent members of same sex drinking groups becoming new victims and offenders.
RR. Dave Wells, a Bournemouth landlord and property developer, has
stated that you agree with his view of Boscombe. What other views and
principles do you and Mr Wells share?
MU. To be honest, I don’t really know Dave, having only met him at the end of October. The issues we have discussed that we share are that we both loath corruption, and we both want to rebuild Boscombe.
RR. Item 7 of your manifesto states that you plan to deal with wildlife
crime. You have also previously stated (on twitter) that you are the
Countryside Alliance Candidate. How do you square these two separate
claims?
MU. The Countryside Alliance tweet was a joke tweet Rachel! Nick King is actually a member of the Countryside Alliance. Although I have signed the Countryside Alliance Pledge, specifically written for PCC’s, it doesn’t conflict with my desire to tackle Wildlife Crime, and rural crime.
RR. The Police and Crime Commissioner is going to be responsible for a
budget well in excess of £100m. What experience do you have of
financial management and particularly of managing such a huge budgets?
MU. I consider this as my weakest area. I am experienced in all aspects of the PCC role, and I have managed large budgets, but never as huge as £100 million. Having said that, other candidates who have budget experience have less experience of policing. None of us can be all things to all men.
I know I will be surrounded by a team of experts to guide me, and an audit team.
Many thanks to all of the participants and good luck to each of them in Thursday’s election.
