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Police and Crime Commissioner (Merseyside) Election Results
| Election Candidate | Party | 1st Choice Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Geoff Gubb | Conservative Party | 15,870 |
| Hilary Jane Jones | UK Independence Party | 8,704 |
| Paula Keaveney | Liberal Democrat | 9,192 |
| Jane Kennedy | Labour Party | 70,844 (ELECTED) |
| Kiron Reid | Independent | 14,379 |
| Paul Duane Rimmer | English Democrats “More Police – Catching Criminals” | 7,142 |
| Total | 123,256 |
Rejected ballot papers: 2,915
Electorate: 1,014,183
Total votes: 126,171
Turnout: 12.4%
Police and Crime Commissioner 2012 (Merseyside Police Force Area) Elections: Election Statements & Photos | Geoff Gubb | Hilary Jane Jones | Paula Clare Keaveney | Jane Kennedy | Kiron Reid | Paul Duane Rimmer
Here are photos of the candidates standing in the Merseyside Police Force Area for Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012 and their election statements (in alphabetical order). The source (with a better layout) for the photos and statements is the Choose my PCC website.
| Photo and logo (if available) of candidate | Election Statement |
|---|---|
  The Conservative Party Candidate |
Geoff GubbElection statement: Electing a Police & Crime Commissioner will mean that, for the first time, you will be able to hold one person to account for the policing of Merseyside. This will bring about not only greater transparency to policing, but a means to challenge, as well as support the police, in their job – to cut crime and make Merseyside a safer place in which to live and work. Among my priorities if I’m elected will be to:
The current economic climate will mean future budget constraints will be a challenge for Merseyside Police but I do believe public money should be spent wisely and effectively in the fight to continue to cut crime. The existing Merseyside Police Authority has succeeded in reducing costs without compromising the fight against crime. As your Police and Crime Commissioner I’d work hard to continue that success. I’m Liverpool born and bred and live on the Wirral. I am proud of my roots and proud of what Merseyside is and stands for. Together we can make it even better and safer. Contact Details: Tel: 07840 274788 Email: geoffreygubb@yahoo.com Prepared by Simon Eardley on behalf of Geoff Gubb both of Wirral West Conservative Association, 24 Meols Drive, Wirral, CH47 4AN. |
  UKIP |
Hilary Jane JonesElection statement: I feel that people should vote for me because I have vast experience in life generally, running a business and also in serving the community. I have lived in Merseyside since I was only a few months old before settling into Bebington, Wirral in 1959. I joined the WRAC in 1974 before joining Merseyside Police in 1977. I now run my own business with my husband as a funeral director, however between 1992 and 1998 I worked for Wirral Magistrates Courts as a Fines Enforcement Officer. I have served as an elected Councillor between 1987-1995 and 1996-2006. During this time, I served on a number of committees, became a group chief whip, cabinet member and Mayor of Wirral for 2004/05. In 2007, I was appointed as a Magistrate for the Wirral bench. As a PCC I would like to concentrate my energies into building a new confidence in the relationship between the Police and the public. This could be achieved by treating so called low level crime with the same importance as other crimes. This would encourage the public to become more actively involved in reporting crimes if they thought they would be given more assistance than just a crime number for insurance purposes. I believe that this, in turn would have a knock on effect so that people would have more confidence in giving information about drug and gun and gang related crime which is a major concern in Merseyside. I would strive to make sure that all personnel working for Merseyside Police, and external agencies working with the Police feel valued and that their achievements make Merseyside a better place for us all to live, work and relax in. Contact Details: Tel Candidate: 07851023695 Tel Agent: 07971266024 Promoted by Phil Griffiths, Room 301, Riverway House, Morecambe Road, Lancaster on behalf of Hilary Jones.
|
  Liberal Democrats |
Paula Clare KeaveneyElection statement: What I will do: I am not doing this for the money. I will donate the difference between what I earn now and what this job pays to charities supporting victims . Crime is going down. But people don’t feel that way. If fear stops you going out, you might as well be under house arrest. I will work to make our communities not just be safer but feel safer. People’s views matter. Less than two per cent replied to the recent police survey. So how can we be sure we really know what local people think? I will run a weekly surgery in different parts of our area and get out to talk to groups across Merseyside. I will go to where people actually are rather than wait for them to come to me. The police must be as visible as possible. That means the focus must be on the front line. I will find ways of using the budget so that money goes to front line visibility rather than HQ type buildings. It is unacceptable that people are victims of hate crime. I will focus on ways of preventing and dealing with these attacks on people who are vulnerable or different. Who I am
I live in South Liverpool and have lived in Southport. I have worked in Crosby and Liverpool and now work in Ormskirk. Contact Details: Tel: 07815 769413/0151 733 2439 Email: paulakeaveney@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.paula4merseyside.blogspot.com Promoted by Paula Keaveney, 75 Canterbury Street, Liverpool, L19 8LQ
|
  The Labour Party Candidate |
Jane KennedyJane KennedyElection statement: This is an important election to decide who will hold the Police to account and decide their priorities. The Police are facing massive cuts to their budget from the Tory/Lib Dem Government. By next April there will be 600 fewer police officers working on Merseyside as a result. If you vote Labour, Jane will: –
Jane has vast experience and has both the skills and determination to be a successful Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside:
Jane is committed to achieving the best for Merseyside Police and the communities they serve. Merseyside needs a plan to cut crime, not the police and help her to do that by supporting Jane Kennedy on the 15th November. Contact Details: Website: www.janekennedy.info Email: jane4merseypcc@gmail.com Promoted by Barrie Grunewald on behalf of Jane Kennedy at 108 Prescot Road, Liverpool, L7 0JA
|
 Independent |
Kiron ReidKiron ReidElection statement: I have the experience and expertise to supervise the police in Merseyside as they cut crime, help victims and prevent reoffending. I am standing as an Independent candidate because the Commissioner’s post should not be party political. I’ve spent 20 years working and campaigning on police matters. As a Law Lecturer at Liverpool University I have an international reputation in the field of policing. I know from serving on Merseyside Police Authority that the current system is insufficiently effective in holding the police to account. I will shake things up. When I served on the Police Authority it provided a balanced range of views. But with just one person doing the job – it shouldn’t be a party figure. It should be the best candidate. As a Liverpool Councillor (Anfield 1998–2007), never tied to the party line, I helped restore the image of the whole Liverpool City Region. As Commissioner I will be working for local people, not party bosses in London. I will work with local communities, using the best methods, to:
I will not be sitting in committees, like the politicians, but out meeting people right across the Region. Merseysiders are famed for their independence – if you have an independent mind, vote Independent. You can read more about my policies and experience on my website. As Commissioner I will be a critical friend of the police. I will stick up for all the people of Merseyside, helping the police show criminals there is nowhere to hide. On Merseyside, let’s put People first, not Party. Contact Details: website: Kiron4Commissioner.com Prepared by Kiron Reid of 48 Abbeygate Apartments, High Street, Liverpool L15 8HB.
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  English Democrats – “More Police – Catching Criminals!” |
Paul Duane RimmerElection statement: I’m Liverpool born and bred. I achieved a 1st at Cambridge University before working in Finance. I was an amateur boxing champion and live with my family in Toxteth. I recently stood in the Liverpool mayoral elections. I am a committed Christian. I want to be the new police and crime commissioner because I believe it is time for transparency in policing. It is your money the police are spending and it is to you they should be directly answerable. I will make sure the Police respond to your concerns first and foremost. Having spoken to the people of Merseyside I hear your voices loud and clear. You want an accountable police force. You want protection of person and property; frontline policing as a priority, with more ‘bobbies on the beat’ and fewer behind desks. Burglary and anti-social behaviour will be tackled hard. You want zero tolerance of illegal drugs. You have no time for political correctness. Police will be recruited on merit alone and the St George’s Flag will be flown above police stations at all times. No minority group will be shown favouritism. I will challenge and tackle political policing, root and branch. You want traditional, no nonsense policing firm, but respecting our liberties and privacy. I will speak for the people of Merseyside not toe a party line. Hillsborough has shown how important police accountability is, I want lessons to be learnt from that tragedy. We want justice for all and no hiding place for criminals. 50% of my salary will be given to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. In tough times let us support our Police as we all work together to uphold the highest standards. Vote PAUL RIMMER! Contact Details: Tel: 0161 766 7731 (regional office) 0207 242 1066 (head office) Website: www.englishdemocrats.org Published and prepared by Agent Steve Mcellenborough,23 Gondover avenue, Orrell park Liverpool,L9 8AY
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Related articles
Declaration of Interest: The author is an elector in this election.
Declaration of Interest: The author was a student at a university which employs one of the candidates (Kiron Reid).
Declaration of Interest: The author was previously in the same political party as two of the candidates (Kiron Reid and Paula Keaveney).
Most read page in the last seven days (23rd October 2012), polling day is 15th November 2012. In answer to a reader’s question, two candidates are based on the Wirral, Gubb (Conservative) and Jones (UKIP).
I attended what could be the last ever meeting of the Transition Committee of the soon to be abolished Merseyside Police Authority (which will be abolished in November 2012).
We were the only public there, but there were plenty of Merseyside Police Authority Members (both councillors and independents), as well as MPA staff and Merseyside Police officers.
The Chair welcomed people to the meeting, and there were three apologies given. They were for Cllr Mrs Doreen Kerrigan (Labour), Cllr Simon Shaw (Liberal Democrat) and a third person I couldn’t quite hear the name of, but might have been Cllr Chris Blakeley (Conservative) who was absent from the meeting.
The Chair asked for any declarations of interest. There weren’t any made.
He asked if the minutes of the meeting held on the 23rd August 2012 were agreed.
Paul Johnson, Chief Executive and Treasurer said that in reference to the approvals for the Audit Committee, they were putting together adverts, so they would have a long list [of candidates] for when the Police and Crime Commissioner starts [in November 2012]. He referred to the debate about where best to put the advert, followed by an amusing joke that they wanted to make sure they didn’t just recruit accountants, but people who had were more rounded and had expertise in governance.
The minutes were agreed and the Chair moved to item 3 (Transition to New Police Governance Arrangements pg5-64), which was a report of the Chief Executive Paul Johnson.
A member of the MPA staff gave an update on the project plan and work and referred to the reference to the Audit Committee on page 8. She referred to the reference on page 9 to the letter from the Home Office [Rt Hon Damien Green MP, Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice] to Police Authorities dated 12th September 2012 [which was included as Appendix 3 (pages 63-64)]. The division of police staff into operational and non-operational roles was referred to. Once the Police and Crime Commissioner was elected [in November] there would be a period between then and April 2013 during which they would have to tell the Home Office. She also informed those present, that on the subject of police staff appeals, that they had written to police staff about the future position.
Paul Johnson, Chief Executive and Treasurer said they had received neither a positive or negative response from the trade unions, who had been present at the last meeting.
This continues from Part 2 of my report on the Merseyside Police Authority meeting of the 30th August 2012. The agenda and reports for item 8 and 9 could be found on the Merseyside Police Authority’s website but since the Merseyside Police Authority was abolished it no longer has a website.
Reports of the Chief Constable
8 – Sustaining Excellence Program – Overview
The Chief Constable explained where they were up to and referred to the framework for savings and frontline resources. He said there was continuous improvement and the plan detailed how it would be taken forward. He asked if there were any questions? The Chair asked anyone if they had any questions?
It was mentioned how it had gone to the Finance and Audit Committee and how officers on the front line had increased from 85% to 88%.
The Chair commented that they had to plan for worse to come, as there was the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn and that the Budget for 2013/2014 was only indicative. He said that public debt was still rising and he wondered if the Budget would be further cut in the next two years, the figures would come out in late October, but this issue would pass over to the Police and Crime Commissioner, but presented further challenges for the force.
Mrs Frances Street (Independent) asked if their staff were aware of what’s coming, how they were going to support this very painful moment and what support would they offer them with finding jobs?
A senior police officer answered that they were careful that staff were kept up to date and briefed. This was done through his team, Nicky and the intranet. He said that any questions were answered as quickly as possible, but it was a process with a decision phase in October/November. After this there would be the inevitable redeployment, which he said they “can’t make pain-free” but he “understands it’s a difficult time for people”.
Mrs Frances Street (Independent) asked if they got counselling or help if they were made redundant in finding a role in another organisation?
The answer given was that Scientiam were looking at what they provide.
The Chair said it was a long-standing principle and that they worked in a high stress environment. There were no further questions and the report was noted.
Reports of the Chief Constable
Item 9 – Officers on Restricted and Recuperative Duties
The Chief Constable gave Members of the Police Authority an update on the current profile of the 370 officers on restrictive and recuperative duties. He outlined the assessment process and the effect of the 2012/2013 Budget on thirty leaving (who would be replaced by forty). The officers on restricted and recuperative duties did mid and back office functions, but he wanted to make sure nobody on restricted/recuperative duties was fit to do a frontline job.
At this point he was heckled by a union rep.
The Chief Constable referred to a table in the report and the cost. The Chair asked for any observations or comments?
Professor Zack-Williams (Independent) said it was an analytic paper but that he was confused with some of the categories, he asked about officers who stayed a long time on restricted duties regarding offences?
The Chief Constable answered that it was just officers who were injured or ill, not those on restricted duties because of professional standards.
Professor Zack-Williams pointed out it was not clear in the report.
The Chief Constable accepted that it wasn’t.
Professor Zack-Williams asked about the H1 process?
The Chief Constable said that they were referred to a medical practitioner to see if they were fit to leave on a medical pension. Those on restricted duties were either incapacitated or not on front facing duties while under investigation.
The Chair asked for observations.
A Member of the Police Authority asked if those nearing retirement were declaring they were long-term sick and the Member wondered whether they found this happens in the police service?
The Chief Constable said they were difficult issues, but that there were isolated cases where it happens. They were focused on it and said that unfortunately that these people got a doctor’s note.
The Chair mentioned processes where they were referred on and it was not just the case that a medical certificate was OK and that it is chased up.
A police officer referred to the work of the Performance Improvement Unit, out of ten officers, all had returned to work except two that had resigned. He pointed out that when people weren’t at work it left more work for the people left behind, which caused more problems as there was “less fat in the system”.
Mrs Frances Street (Independent) referred to John Martin and how impressed she was by the handle he had on it. She compared it to the private sector and explained that if there was leadership from the top then good practice filters down quickly.
The Chief Constable said he felt he spent far too much time visiting people with serious illnesses, such as people with cancer wondering why the Chief Constable was seeing them.
Prof Zack-Williams asked a further question.
The answer given was that the Occupational Health Unit and Human Resources had worked hard for twelve months, but a lead from the Chief Officers ensured consistency. The details were in the report, there were good signs that restricted and recuperative duties of police officers were reviewed and they were looking to apply it to police staff too.
The report was noted.
The Chair said there was no AOB and moved a motion to exclude the public from the final item on the meeting’s agenda (Strategic Options Project (Wave 2b) – Force Contact Centre Update) on the basis that it would result in information relating to an individual being revealed. He thanked the public for their attendance.