ON THURSDAY November 15 the first ever elections will be held to choose a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Greater Manchester. The new police commissioner will replace and take on the responsibilities of the existing police authority which currently oversees Greater Manchester Police. The first commissioner will serve a three a half year term and will receive a salary of £100,000 per annum.
GMP badgeThe UK Police Service is divided into 43 local forces in England and Wales of which 41 are held accountable to the public through police authorities. The current police authority for GMP is chaired by Labour councillor Paul Murphy and is made up of 19 people including councillors, independent members and magistrates. The new arrangements will see an elected PCC supported by a police and crime panel made up of councillors (or mayors) from each local authority within Greater Manchester.
The PCC should not be confused with the Chief Constable as both have statuary responsibilities separate from each other. The Chief Constable, Sir Peter Fahy, is the most senior officer in the GMP and is responsible for delivering the policies set by the PCC. The responsibilities of the PCC will include the following:
- Setting the police budget and council tax precept.
- Setting policing objectives for GMP and publishing police plans.
- Holding the chief constable to account for the delivery of the force. Appointing, and where necessary dismissing, chief constables.
- Holding public meetings for the public to discuss their concerns.
We gave every candidate the opportunity to explain how they would fulfil their responsibilities if elected. The people who responded were Matt Gallagher, the Liberal Democrat candidate, and Michael Winstanley, the Conservative candidate, the others didn't bother.
Matt GallagherMATT GALLAGHER – Liberal Democrats
Gallagher is the only candidate with front line experience as a police office and spent 30 years working for GMP.
How will you work with reduced police budgets without adversely affecting service quality?
The reduced police budget will be a challenge to the Commissioner, which it is why it is so important to cut waste and inefficiency. My proposed Police Apprenticeship scheme will put bobbies on the beat almost a year earlier than at present, and my plan to recover costs from time-wasting criminals will get more officers back to fighting crime in the community. Cross-charging organisations that use police resources for non-crime related activities will also bring in much needed revenue for crime fighting purposes. Energy Secretary, Ed Davey offered his support if GMP formed a co-operative with neighbouring forces to negotiate cheaper energy supplies. This could save GMP up to £1.3 million annually; money that puts more bobbies on the front line and improves victims services.
Which crimes will you prioritise during your first year in the job?
I don’t intend to single out one particular type of crime as a priority. Instead, my priority will be to refocus the police frontline on fighting crime and away from activities that are outside their remit. We must make more officers available to work constantly in the community, working with residents and local organisations to tackle all forms of crime, and I regard anti-social behaviour as crime. By making more police available we can improve on GMP’s Graded Response policy. The words “I’m calling the police!” must have real meaning again. We need a response within 24 minutes, not 24 hours. Victims must come first, which is why I will have the first Assistant Commissioner for Victims, tasked with giving victims a better service.
Where do you feel the current chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, needs to improve in his performance and what demands will you make of him?
The current Chief Constable has had an unenviable task finding budget cuts as the Government tries to repair the economy. Officers join the service to fight crime, and Chiefs are always looking for funding to drive this agenda. Crime in Greater Manchester has been falling in recent years and I want this to continue, but that means finding more dynamic ways of operating as effectively, efficiently and responsively as possible. The Commissioners role is to listen carefully to the people and find out what they want from our police, then work with the Chief Constable on the most effective way to deliver what they want. That is why it is so important that the Commissioner has police experience, and knows what they can deliver.
Why should the people of Greater Manchester vote for you to be their new police and crime commissioner?
I would ask the people to vote for me as I am the only candidate with decades of police experience on the front line. I have outlined in my manifesto (available online at www.Matt4PCC.org) what I intend to do as Commissioner, and how I intend to do it. I have promised the people a Commissioners Consultative Committee so that every citizen feels they have a voice in how we are policed, and those who have previously felt that the police don’t represent their views will have their own Assistant Commissioner to fight for them, something my main opponent is implacably opposed to. By the end of this week the people of Greater Manchester WILL have a Police and Crime Commissioner. If they believe a politician is best for the job they will have a number to choose from, or they can give their vote to a proven crime-fighter.
Michael WinstanleyMICHAEL WINSTANLEY – Conservative
Winstanley is a senior development analyst at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust and is a former councillor.
How will you work with reduced police budgets without adversely affecting service quality?
Whoever is elected into this role of PCC will have to work with less money, anyone who tells the electorate something different is not being honest. This means that with fewer police officers we need to make sure that they spend more time on the front line deterring crime and catching criminals. This can be done by removing the pointless targets imposed by the last Labour government. The Police will have one target and that will be to cut crime. I will also work with the Chief Constable and front line officers to remove needless bureaucracy and paperwork to help them in their job.
Which crimes will you prioritise during your first year in the job?
The Police will only have one target and that is to reduce crime and I want to make sure that they focus on that. This will mean that we will make Greater Manchester safer and have fewer victims of crime. But we need to continue the good work on reducing gun and gang related crime that blights certain communities in Greater Manchester. This can only be done by working with the local community and re-establishing confidence with the police. One of my priorities is to crack down on anti social behaviour and to make sure that those who cause misery to innocent people are dealt with swiftly and effectively.
Where do you feel the current Chief Constable, Sir Peter Fahy, needs to improve in his performance and what demands will you make of him?
It would be unfair and unprofessional to publicly comment on the performance of the Chief Constable as I have not had the opportunity yet to work with him. The relationship between the PCC and Chief Constable is essential if we are to focus on providing the best possible policing service to the people of Greater Manchester. The biggest challenge that we both face is delivering the Policing Plan which will be driven by the priorities of the people of Greater Manchester. If we can deliver on this and demonstrate results, this will build confidence with the people of Greater Manchester. A good working relationship will be essential to deliver this.
Why should the people of Greater Manchester vote for you to be their new Police and Crime Commissioner?
As Police and Crime Commissioner my main aim will be to cut crime across Greater Manchester. I am sick and tired of the thugs and criminals who make the lives of innocent people a misery. That is why I want to crack down on anti social behaviour and so called low level crime. I believe in tough sentences and proper deterrents. I also want to see tougher community sentencing so that justice is also seen to be done. If people want a Police and Crime Commissioner that feels the way they do about law and order then they should support me in this election. I won’t make excuses for criminals I want the full force of the law to be brought upon them. I want to make Greater Manchester safer for law abiding citizens and a place that criminals fear.
TONY LLOYD - Labour
Stretford born Lloyd stepped down from being an MP for Manchester Central to stand in these elections.
How will you work with reduced police budgets without adversely affecting service quality?
The Government decision to cut 20% from the Greater Manchester Police budget is reckless. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have said it would be possible to cut 12% from the budget over 4 years without damaging Policing. It is galling that Greater Manchester has been hit harder than other areas. On that basis it is inevitable that the Government bear responsibility for any failure to maintain the downward drive in crime that has taken place in Greater Manchester under the Labour Government. All that said both strong partnerships between all those involved in crime prevention (local councils, drug, alcohol and mental health services as well as partners across the criminal justice service) can still help reduce crime.
Which crimes will you prioritise during your first year in the job?
In terms of crime if you are a victim of any crime that is the most important at the time. In prioritising any given crime the danger is that others are de-prioritised. What is true is that crimes like anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and some types of hate crime are not always given the priority they deserve and do need to be prioritised.
Where do you feel the current chief constable, Sir Peter Fahy, needs to improve in his performance and what demands will you make of him?
The Police and Crime Commissioner will have a relationship with the whole Police force not just the Chief Constable. To start out on the basis of public criticism of the Chief Constable simply prevents the kind of constructive working relationship that is in the interest of the wider public.
Tony Lloyd makes a point, Lucy Powell and Yvette Cooper look on
The candidates who are running and didn't get round to replying to Manchester Confidential are listed below:
Roy Warren – Independent
The magistrate and former professional ice-hockey player is the only independent running.
Steven Woolfe – UKIP
Woolfe is the UKIP financial services spokesman and lawyer for an international hedge fund.
THIS is the second of our Commissioner articles. You can read the first here.
GMP's new headquarters in Newton Heath
