Police Commissioner Elections: Ask questions, then vote !

The July meeting of the Trades Council  was pleased to welcome author and journalist Paul Richards to talk about the forthcoming Police Commissioner elections.

Paul was a special adviser to the last Government on Communities; and was an unsuccessful candidate for Labour’s nomination for the Sussex election. However, as a committed trade unionists, and a  Unite and NUJ member, we thought Paul would be ideal to talk to us  about the role of the commissioners !

Trade Unionists should consider the fact that the elected commissioner will set the budget headings for Sussex Police and its strategic priorities.

Paul highlighted the different attitudes likely to be taken by candidates on issues such as community policing, hate crime (especially race and LGBT) and protecting both uniformed and support staff jobs from cuts and privatisation.

The commissioner will also have control over the budget allocated for Victim Support work, and we should ask serious questions about how this will be allocated.

Paul spoke of the likelihood that the racist BNP will target this election, and that racist and fascist parties tend to do well when there is apathy and a low turnout- which is why it is vital that all trade unionists vote and encourage their workmates to turn out and have their say.

Eastbourne TUC, like all trades councils and the national TUC,  is party-politically independent and does not endorse any individual party or candidate. We urge all local trade unionists to read all of the material, follow all of the campaigns and weigh up the issues for themselves- then make sure you turn out to vote- and encourage others to do the same !

THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY 15^TH NOVEMBER.

Trades Council Meeting: July

There will be a meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council at 7.30pm, Tuesday 10th July, at the Unite Eastbourne Centre (formerly T&G) , Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists are invited, (although only delegates from affiliated unions may vote on financial and policy matters.)

The guest speaker will be local Unite member, author and campaigner Paul Richards.  Paul was a Special Adviser on Communities to Hazel Blears in the last Labour government, and had sought the Labour Party nomination for the forthcoming Police Commissioner election.  Although Paul was unsuccessful in this, he still has a lot of information and ideas about these important first elections.

Paul will be speaking about the Police Commissioners, the role and powers that they will have, and how trade unionists should be getting involved.  (Note: The Trades Council is party-politically independent, and does not support or endorse any party or candidate. Paul is invited as an expert speaker and a long-standing Unite the Union member !)

THE AGENDA WILL BE:
1. Introductions and apologies for absence
2. Approval of new affiliations.
3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer
5. Paul Richards- Author and Unite member- The Police Commissioner Elections

6. Priorities for Summer campaigning

7. Any other Union Campaigns: Colleagues invited to provide information on their Unions’ local and national campaigns, and any support that the Trades Council could give.
8. Any other business.

 Any apologies, or requests for information, to the Secretary please

BNP Target Sussex Police Commissioner Post

Trades Unionists are being urged to campaign and vote in the forthcoming Police Commissioner elections, in light of news that the racist BNP intends to campaign for the post.

The British National Party (BNP) is planning to stand a candidate in Sussex for the newly-created police commissioner job. If the BNP candidate was elected, it would be a disaster for community relations, and risk serious public disorder throughout Sussex, says one of the leading candidates for the post.

Unite member Paul Richards, who is seeking the Labour nomination to be a police commissioner candidate in Sussex, is warning this week that unless people in East and West Sussex turn out to vote, the BNP might sneak in through the back door.

Mr Richards, an adviser to the last Labour government on community relations and counter-terrorism, has conducted an analysis of BNP websites in Sussex. Mr Richards’ analysis shows that:

• This week, the BNP deputy leader Simon Darby made a call for BNP candidates to step forward to stand in Sussex for police commissioner


• BNP ‘table tops’ (ie provocative street stalls) are planned in Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Lancing and Emsworth, according to BNP organisers


• 60,000 leaflets have been distributed throughout Sussex, including in East Preston, Angmering, Ruslington, Ferring, Lancing and Barnham.


• The BNP is seeking to build on the success of BNP parish councillor John Robinson, a councillor in Barnham parish council, in standing more candidates for town and parish councils


• The BNP south east headquarters in Hastings is gearing up for the Sussex police elections in November

Paul Richards, Labour’s hopeful, said: ‘It is now clear that the BNP, which does so much damage in our communities, is fundraising and organising to stand a candidate for police commissioner in Sussex.

"As a Labour Party candidate, I will stand against the BNP, expose their falsehoods, and argue for fairness and tolerance. But it will be down to the voters to turn out on election day to stop the BNP being elected.
‘A low turnout might favour the extremists, and that would be a disaster. If the BNP won, they would get £80,000 salary, plus £100,000-plus to appoint staff."

Each candidate requires 100 signatures, and a deposit of £5,000 to stand for the new posts, which replace the now-defunct police authorities. The police commissioners will have wide-ranging powers, including setting budgets, representing the public to the police, and hiring and firing the chief constable for Sussex. The election is on Thursday 15th November 2012.