Douglas Carswell's Blog

Change is coming - local people will soon decide local police priorities

Almost ten years ago, I wrote a pamphlet advocating directly elected Police Commissioners – or sheriffs. I argued that we should scrap Police Authorities and the old tripartite governance system, and have a single elected individual set police priorities, as well as hire and fire the Chief Constable.

I lost count of the number of people who initially dismissed the idea as mad. A decade later, I’ve lost track of the number of people who tell me it was their idea all along.

This November, everyone will get a vote to decide who should set police priorities where they live.   You elect the Police Commissioner, who then answers directly to you and to whom the Chief Constable is accountable.  

As with the London 2012 coverage, the press have started out a little sceptical about the whole thing. However, just like the Olympics, I suspect the scepticism will give way to last minute enthusiasm for the idea – not least when it is realised that the new Police Commissioner will have a much greater say than many have assumed.  

Here in Essex, Nick Alston is standing for the role. He is not a typical politician. Indeed, he’s not been a politician at all.

Nick – who grew up in this part of Essex – was out and about listening to local people in Clacton today. Find out more about Nick, and the things he stands for, here.

If you live in Essex, why not follow Nick on twitter @NickAlstonPCC ? 

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