I very much enjoyed joining others at the Al Ghazali centre for a candidate's debate yesterday.
There wasn't a massive turnout but in a way that was better as we had a real chance to have a real discussion with real questions.
I was pleased to be able to say more about my priority of dealing with "hate crime". We have to find ways of tackling this sort of crime, which means people become victims just because of who they are and the fact that they are different. This in turn means acknowledging that it exists.
Thanks again to all at the Al Ghazali for kindly organising the evening.
Friday, 9 November 2012
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Going to be away on polling day?
If you have just realised you'll be away on polling day, but haven't got a postal vote, you can get a proxy vote (that's one where someone else goes for you)
The deadline though to have the form in is today (7th November)
You can download and print off a form at this link
The deadline though to have the form in is today (7th November)
You can download and print off a form at this link
Full time job
I was surprised, at a debate the other day, to be asked whether I would do the Police and Crime Commissioner job as a full - time role.
To be honest I hadn't realised that anyone would think it was anything but.
Looking at the rules however, I can see that there are provisions for people to do the work part-time.
I want to be absolutely clear about this. If I am elected I will be a full- time Police and Crime Commissioner.
In fact, given what I have said about surgeries and meetings, I suspect I would be a more than full time PCC.
This is not to say that there aren't other elected positions that can be combined with working. I believe quite strongly that local Councillors should also do other things for example.
But there is no way anyone could be Police and Crime Commissioner without committing to it full time.
To be honest I hadn't realised that anyone would think it was anything but.
Looking at the rules however, I can see that there are provisions for people to do the work part-time.
I want to be absolutely clear about this. If I am elected I will be a full- time Police and Crime Commissioner.
In fact, given what I have said about surgeries and meetings, I suspect I would be a more than full time PCC.
This is not to say that there aren't other elected positions that can be combined with working. I believe quite strongly that local Councillors should also do other things for example.
But there is no way anyone could be Police and Crime Commissioner without committing to it full time.
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Voting by post
If you vote by post, you should get your ballot paper in the next few days (if you didn't already receive it on Saturday)
I've been asked several times now about the slightly unusual way of voting.
In this election you have two votes - a first choice and a second.
You don't put a 1 and 2 though.
There are two columns so you put an X in your first choice column next to whoever is your first choice and an X in your second choice column next to whoever is your second.
You don't have to have a second choice if you don't want to.
And it's important to realise that your second choice won't cancel out your first.
The way it works is that all the first choice votes are counted up.
If someone has more than 50 percent, they are elected.
If they don't, the top two people stay in the ballot and the second choices of all the other ballot papers get counted.
Postal votes have to come back by 15th November. You can take yours to a polling station if you forget to post it in time.
I've been asked several times now about the slightly unusual way of voting.
In this election you have two votes - a first choice and a second.
You don't put a 1 and 2 though.
There are two columns so you put an X in your first choice column next to whoever is your first choice and an X in your second choice column next to whoever is your second.
You don't have to have a second choice if you don't want to.
And it's important to realise that your second choice won't cancel out your first.
The way it works is that all the first choice votes are counted up.
If someone has more than 50 percent, they are elected.
If they don't, the top two people stay in the ballot and the second choices of all the other ballot papers get counted.
Postal votes have to come back by 15th November. You can take yours to a polling station if you forget to post it in time.
Friday, 2 November 2012
Are we under "house arrest"
I said that rather than publish my manifesto as a big block of text, I would post a different bit every day.
Today I want to talk about the fear of crime.
Crime is going down. That is a statistical fact. It went down last year too. Another statistical fact.
The question is, do we feel safer?
And the answer I get from people is that actually many of us are still afraid.
And if you are afraid of crime to the extent that you don't go out much, you might as well be under house arrest.
That's why for me, dealing with the fear of crime is so vital.
Now it's not an easy thing to do. I remember as a child being frightened of something and it taking quite some time to get over it.
But we must give more confidence to our residents and our communities.
This problem can't be solved overnight. But I want to work with people, organisations and communities to look at how we can conquer the fear.
This might be target hardening things, like the successful Lib Dem led alleygating programme in Liverpool.
It definitely is about making the police more visible and more accessible.
And its also about finding ways of working with those groups who might, accidentally, be causing the fear.
But make no mistake, for me, tackling this fear is vital and I will want an intense focus on how we deal with it.
Today I want to talk about the fear of crime.
Crime is going down. That is a statistical fact. It went down last year too. Another statistical fact.
The question is, do we feel safer?
And the answer I get from people is that actually many of us are still afraid.
And if you are afraid of crime to the extent that you don't go out much, you might as well be under house arrest.
That's why for me, dealing with the fear of crime is so vital.
Now it's not an easy thing to do. I remember as a child being frightened of something and it taking quite some time to get over it.
But we must give more confidence to our residents and our communities.
This problem can't be solved overnight. But I want to work with people, organisations and communities to look at how we can conquer the fear.
This might be target hardening things, like the successful Lib Dem led alleygating programme in Liverpool.
It definitely is about making the police more visible and more accessible.
And its also about finding ways of working with those groups who might, accidentally, be causing the fear.
But make no mistake, for me, tackling this fear is vital and I will want an intense focus on how we deal with it.
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Housing and its links to crime
I came across this really interesting blog from Shelter today.
Shelter is a charity focusing on homelessness and housing.
The links between having somewhere secure to move into and risk of re offending are clearly significant.
Do have a read, it is real food for thought.
You can find it at this link.
Shelter is a charity focusing on homelessness and housing.
The links between having somewhere secure to move into and risk of re offending are clearly significant.
Do have a read, it is real food for thought.
You can find it at this link.
The Late Night Levy and other new powers.
Rather than posting a load of text all at once, I am blogging about my manifesto one item at a time.
So I am focusing on a different topic each day.
Some of these things will not be on the Home Office site as the 300 words allowed was simply not enough!
Today I am focusing on two new powers that came into effect yesterday. Both are about dealing with crime and anti social behaviour caused by alcohol misuse.
The Co alition Government has given local Councils the power to prevent early morning alcohol sales in particularly troubled areas, and to charge a fee to some businesses that sell alcohol late at night and in the early morning.
The point of the early morning measure (Early Morning Alcohol Restriction Order) is that where there is an area that is demonstrably affected by crime and anti social behaviour because of the alcohol sales, a council can step in and restrict the sales. This is obviously a step of last resort but in neighourhoods that are plagued by this problem it could be the last step that needs to be taken.
The point of the Late Night Levy is to accept that there are extra costs (policing and enforcement) linked to alcohol being sold late at night. If a Council decides to use the levy, the money goes partly to help pay for enforcement but also partly to help pay for policing. (There are quite a few exemptions - like Business Improvement Districts and Councils can decide on discounts etc so that it is not a one size fits all policy)
In each case the Council has to decide whether to start using the power.
As far as I can see, none of the Councils have taken the decision to use the power(s) yet (although Liverpool has at least discussed it) but if I am elected I will be keen to see all local authorities on Merseyside using the Late Night Levy power and being prepared to use, as a last resprt, the Early Morning Restriction power.
This isn't about stopping people having fun. I like a drink myself.
But there are clearly social and crime related costs to alcohol sales very late at night or in the early morning and its only fair that these costs are recognised and met.
And responsible businesses tend to recognise this.
So I am focusing on a different topic each day.
Some of these things will not be on the Home Office site as the 300 words allowed was simply not enough!
Today I am focusing on two new powers that came into effect yesterday. Both are about dealing with crime and anti social behaviour caused by alcohol misuse.
The Co alition Government has given local Councils the power to prevent early morning alcohol sales in particularly troubled areas, and to charge a fee to some businesses that sell alcohol late at night and in the early morning.
The point of the early morning measure (Early Morning Alcohol Restriction Order) is that where there is an area that is demonstrably affected by crime and anti social behaviour because of the alcohol sales, a council can step in and restrict the sales. This is obviously a step of last resort but in neighourhoods that are plagued by this problem it could be the last step that needs to be taken.
The point of the Late Night Levy is to accept that there are extra costs (policing and enforcement) linked to alcohol being sold late at night. If a Council decides to use the levy, the money goes partly to help pay for enforcement but also partly to help pay for policing. (There are quite a few exemptions - like Business Improvement Districts and Councils can decide on discounts etc so that it is not a one size fits all policy)
In each case the Council has to decide whether to start using the power.
As far as I can see, none of the Councils have taken the decision to use the power(s) yet (although Liverpool has at least discussed it) but if I am elected I will be keen to see all local authorities on Merseyside using the Late Night Levy power and being prepared to use, as a last resprt, the Early Morning Restriction power.
This isn't about stopping people having fun. I like a drink myself.
But there are clearly social and crime related costs to alcohol sales very late at night or in the early morning and its only fair that these costs are recognised and met.
And responsible businesses tend to recognise this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)