Wiltshire was today the first county in the country to declare the results of the election for a police and crime commissioner – Tory candidate Angus Macpherson being elected on a pathetic turnout of 15.8 per cent with three per cent spoiled votes.
This was after second preference votes were counted among the 81,477 people who voted out of a total electorate of 520,000.
Across the country there were deserted polling stations, the result, voters complained, of a lack of information about the first election of police commissioners, a government policy criticised for politicising the police. By just before the closing time of 10pm at one Polling Station, the Kennet Valley Hall in Lockeridge only 62 people had turned out to cast their vote out of an electorate of well over 800.
“People have e-mailed and contacted us saying that they didn’t know enough about the candidates in order to be able to make a choice, and obviously that’s something I have no control over,” said Wiltshire returning officer Stephen Taylor.
“It would be good to have some analysis afterwards and see whether there are any lessons to be learned.”
Mr Macpherson, the only candidate who sent out an election address, pointed out: “There are several reasons why people didn’t come out to vote.
“They didn’t understand what the job is, they didn’t know who the candidates were and they couldn’t make a judgement.”
Mr Macpherson took first place with 35, 319 votes (62.5 per cent) with Labour’s Clare Moody second with 21,157 votes (37.5 per cent) and Independent Colin Skelton third with 11,446 votes (14.5 per cent).
Mr Macpherson, who will receive a salary of £70,000, now has but 10 weeks to create a new county police budget with Wiltshire’s Chief Constable Pat Geenty.
Mr Macpherson, a 59-year-old former councillor with a small accountancy business in Wroughton, where he lives, pointed to Wiltshire police’s motto – primus et optimus — the first and the best.
As the county’s first police and crime commissioner his aim is to doing everything possible “to make myself the best for the people of Wiltshire.”
He added: “I’m really proud to get this job. I’m really excited, it think it’s going to be a great thing for the people of Wiltshire.”
In particular he wants to launch a recruitment drive to boost the number of special constables in the county from 200 to more than 350.
Another project is to commission Wiltshire’s drug and alcohol services together, rather than in isolation, which will provide better value for money and tackle substance abuse more holistically.
And having been a magistrate in Swindon for 20 years, he plans to increase the use of restorative justice, enabling offenders who have been sent to prison agreeing to meet their victims face-to-face and offenders physically repairing any damage they have caused in return for no prosecution.
He believes people voted for him because they identified him as the candidate with the best skills, his key role now to explain to the public the significance of the post.
“It would have been better if more people had voted,” he added. “There are several reasons why people didn’t come out to vote — they didn’t understand what the job is.”
“They didn’t know who the candidates were and couldn’t make a judgment. And then, depressingly, there were a lot of people while we were out on the street saying ‘I don’t (vote) for anything’.”
“Of all those that voted, more liked my skill-set than the others’. I think it is not so much a mandate, it is a large job interview. It is incumbent on all the commissioners, as we take office, to develop this job and let people know what it is”.
“I believe that I can make a real difference, using my skills and knowledge. I will provide strong leadership, but will not interfere with the day-to-day running of the police.”
“I have seven years’ experience in monitoring police performance and a passion for building stronger, inclusive communities. I understand how the police work and 20 years as a magistrate give me a working knowledge of the criminal justice system and the needs of victims.”
In a statement to Marlborough News Online, Mr Geenty said:
“I wish to congratulate Angus Macpherson as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon.
“Wiltshire police is an excellent force with dedicated and hard-working officers and staff and a good history of performance showing a reduction in overall crime over the last five years.
“The aim for Wiltshire police remains one of reducing crime and anti social behaviour and keeping it one of the safest counties in the country. I look forward to working alongside Angus Macpherson, when he takes up office on Thursday 22 November, to shape a programme of work to help enable him to deliver his manifesto and priorities, as we continue to protect the public.”
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Even Marlborough’s Wiltshire councillors refused to vote Both Peggy Dow and Nick Fogg, Marlborough’s two Wiltshire councillors, refused to vote in the crime commissioner ballot and were not shocked to hear of the low turnout. “The 15.8 per cent poll was point eight per cent more than I expected,” declared Councillor Fogg, who, like Mrs Dow, is also a town councillor and both are former mayors of Marlborough. “When I passed the polling station at the town hall I couldn’t see a single person going in to vote.” Councillor Dow told Marlborough News Online: “I did not vote. How could I? People didn’t agree with what it was all about.” “How can we, as ordinary people, vote for a police commissioner? It’s like putting managers into the NHS and getting shot of nurses.” “And if so many thousands failed to vote, then it means that a hell of a lot of people feel the same as me.” Councillor Fogg, who said he did not receive a single piece of information from any of the police commissioner candidates, added: “I find this attempt to politicise our police disturbing.” “That policy was not for me. I simply didn’t like the idea. And so I didn’t vote.” |
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