Swindon & Wilts PCC vote rerun

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
Jonathon Seed has won the vote to be PCC in Swindon & Wilts, but he has a drink-driving conviction from 1993, current legislation means that he may not take up the role with this conviction, so there must be a new election.

Mr Seed has not at any time hidden his past conviction, but the Conservative party wrongly assured him that it was not a problem. So Mr Seed has not been in any way dishonest, but his party advisors have been almost unbelievably stupid. For the record I'm a Conservative party member; but... I still think the party should foot the bill for the electoral rerun.

But... I also think that it is ridiculous that, even with his prior conviction, Mr Seed could join the police to enforce the law, become a Judge and rule on the law and sit in Parliament and make the law, but not become a PCC... not that I think PCCs are worth having anyway. :mad:
 

Bongodog

Member
Jonathon Seed has won the vote to be PCC in Swindon & Wilts, but he has a drink-driving conviction from 1993, current legislation means that he may not take up the role with this conviction, so there must be a new election.

Mr Seed has not at any time hidden his past conviction, but the Conservative party wrongly assured him that it was not a problem. So Mr Seed has not been in any way dishonest, but his party advisors have been almost unbelievably stupid. For the record I'm a Conservative party member; but... I still think the party should foot the bill for the electoral rerun.

But... I also think that it is ridiculous that, even with his prior conviction, Mr Seed could join the police to enforce the law, become a Judge and rule on the law and sit in Parliament and make the law, but not become a PCC... not that I think PCCs are worth having anyway. :mad:
It appears that unlike any other public position you are barred from the job if you have ever been convicted of an offence that could result in a prison sentence, you don't have to get the sentence, just that you might have. So that is basically more or less any criminal conviction, you could have been caught shoplifting a pint of milk 50 years ago, no magistrate woulde ever send anyone to prison for a such a 1st offence, but there is the possibility. Meanwhile an MP has to get at least 3 months in clink before they have to stand down.

Unfortunately double standards when it comes to MP's vs the rest of the population is a regular thing, those who served as parish/district or county cllrs in the late 90's will well remember Tony Blair coming up with the standards board for public life, it applied to all elected people apart from the MP's who voted it in. At one point we had around 30% of our parish council under investigation, all completely pointless due to complainants who didn't like the in covenient truth.

As to this particular mess up, I think if I has been the local official who was asked "does a 30 year old drink driving fine prevent me from this position" I would have made the same assumption.

Having just read the terms and conditions for the role, it appears that there are quite a few things that differ in respect to other public posts, one in particualr is that no council employee of any description can stand for the role, even part time parish council staff.
And who signed off this legislation ? - Teresa May !!!! Is running through a wheat field an imprisonable offence :ROFLMAO:
 

Martin Holden

Member
Trade
Location
Cheltenham
Do we really need PCC’s? It’s another cost to tax payers and we can see this cost on our council tax bills. The police force is answerable to the law of the land and I assume Chief Constables are qualified experienced officers that know the ropes so to speak. We seem to have entered a time when so many posts are created to monitor professionals. Sure professional should be just that - trustworthy enough to get the job done.
 

Widgetone

Member
Trade
Location
Westish Suffolk
Seems totally over the top to be disbarred for life. A 1993 offence ffs. The guy might have some insight into why/what made him make the grave mistake of driving after a drink which actually may make him useful in the role.
In the spirit of transparency, I have a token interest after my mistake in March with a mobile phone after a clean licence since the 1980's.
 

nivilla1982

Member
Livestock Farmer
Seems totally over the top to be disbarred for life. A 1993 offence ffs. The guy might have some insight into why/what made him make the grave mistake of driving after a drink which actually may make him useful in the role.
In the spirit of transparency, I have a token interest after my mistake in March with a mobile phone after a clean licence since the 1980's.
Especially considering some the politicians elected in NI with past convictions.
 

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
Seems totally over the top to be disbarred for life. A 1993 offence ffs. The guy might have some insight into why/what made him make the grave mistake of driving after a drink which actually may make him useful in the role.
In the spirit of transparency, I have a token interest after my mistake in March with a mobile phone after a clean licence since the 1980's.
Yep, I can honestly say that since starting in the Courts and seeing in quite horrific detail the results of RTAs, my driving became properly responsible. This Seed chap has no record of dishonesty, violence or other serious crime, the sort things that I've no problem people being excluded for...
 

Widgetone

Member
Trade
Location
Westish Suffolk
Yep, I can honestly say that since starting in the Courts and seeing in quite horrific detail the results of RTAs, my driving became properly responsible. This Seed chap has no record of dishonesty, violence or other serious crime, the sort things that I've no problem people being excluded for...
Yes, I am now much more wary of speed limits, tyre tread depths etc, and am a reformed character behind the wheel. Even replaced a rear wiper blade!
For at least the next 4 years :)
 
Unfortunate that Maj. Seed was led up the garden path by poor advisers. A squandered opportunity to elect a candidate with some real-life experience, rather than another career pen-pusher.

I've never really understood why our police forces' spending priorities are decided by a PCC with allegiance to a political party. Should our policing not be apolitical?

Police spending should be aligned with local crime figures, rather than being steered by the whims of whichever political party wins the vote.

(I accept some candidates declare political independence)
 

arcobob

Member
Location
Norfolk
Do we really need PCC’s? It’s another cost to tax payers and we can see this cost on our council tax bills. The police force is answerable to the law of the land and I assume Chief Constables are qualified experienced officers that know the ropes so to speak. We seem to have entered a time when so many posts are created to monitor professionals. Sure professional should be just that - trustworthy enough to get the job done.
It`s all to do with buck passing. These days there has to be a fall guy .
 

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