Police and crime commissioner Bill Longmore ignores advice and appoints friend as £50,000 deputy (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Police and crime commissioner Bill Longmore ignores advice and appoints friend as £50,000 deputy
9:30am Thursday 13th December 2012 in News By Bill Tanner
WEST Mercia’s new police and crime commissioner has gone ahead and appointed his friend, campaign manager and former colleague as a £50,000 deputy – with the salary coming from public funds.
Within weeks of his own appointment – on a tax-payer funded £75,000 a year – independent Bill Longmore has now set himself up against the councillors on West Mercia police and crime panel who will oversee his role.
At a tense meeting last week the panel called on Mr Longmore top appoint a deputy through a proper selection process.
Yesterday he confirmed that he was ignoring this advice to make Barrie Sheldon his deputy.
Legislation allows Mr Longmore to directly appoint a deputy.
“I am aware this is a controversial issue, I remain confident Barrie’s qualities will complement those I bring to the PCC office,” said Mr Longmore.
Bill Longmore, pictured, was elected last month
Mr Sheldon said he was “very proud” to be appointed deputy.
See this week’s Hereford Times for more
Comments(29)
silentbull
says...
9:54am Thu 13 Dec 12
Surprise Surprise!!!
Hopefully this post doesn't disappear like the last one i put on about the fox hunting
Bongarwiran Appledurain
says...
11:54am Thu 13 Dec 12
My post on the cat mistaken for a fox disappeared as well. My error on that occasion was to go against the popular view so I think we are both pretty safe on this topic silentbull.
silentbull
says...
1:08pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Bongarwiran Appledurain wrote:My view on fox hunting was not very 'improving' lets say ;-)
Despicable but par for the course with political animals.
My post on the cat mistaken for a fox disappeared as well. My error on that occasion was to go against the popular view so I think we are both pretty safe on this topic silentbull.
in fact i wouldn't be surprised if somebody complained about it.
Its was my view of it and Im convinced IM RIGHT!!!
Herefordian07
says...
1:10pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Vic Vomitello
says...
1:33pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Ubique5740
says...
1:34pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Dear *****, it would be difficult to answer this question at the moment as I am not in receipt of the information you have asked for. The current Police Authority team which is based at Shrewsbury will still be in place when the PCC is appointed and one of the first jobs for the newly elected PCC will be to review current staffing and set up an appropriate team for the PCCs office. Currently the team consists of a Chief Executive, a finance officer, 3 policy officers and a number of adminitrative staff. I have some ideas about the type of personnel I want in the office and I will certainly need people with expertise around partnerships, victims, communication and local policing.
There will be no Police Authority members expenses; however a Police and Crime Panel will exist whose members will be entitled to expenses.
I have no idea what the runnng costs will be but any expenditure will be carefully considered and of course disclosable to the public in due course.
Ubique5740
says...
1:40pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Please excuse my delay in responding formally to you as I am having to cope with 100 emails a day.
In answer to your questions the running costs should be less than 1% of the police budget. With regard to the use of the staff, the current staff that support the police authority will transfer to the Police and Crime Commissioner, which will included the chief executive, finance and communications team. In addition the Commissioner is entitled to recruit a deputy.
If you would like any further information then please call the office and we can arrange a convenient time to speak on the phone.
Once again please excuse my delay in getting back to you.
Yours sincerely
Adrian Blackshaw
Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate
Bill Chapman
says...
2:13pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Vic Vomitello
says...
3:57pm Thu 13 Dec 12
dodger3
says...
4:37pm Thu 13 Dec 12
dippyhippy
says...
7:17pm Thu 13 Dec 12
VWVWVW
says...
8:59pm Thu 13 Dec 12
Biomech
says...
12:09am Fri 14 Dec 12
Vic Vomitello
says...
12:13pm Fri 14 Dec 12
Biomech
says...
12:33pm Fri 14 Dec 12
ChrisK62
says...
8:14pm Fri 14 Dec 12
I thought that there was something in Equal Opportunities Employment law which stated that a vacancy had to at least be advertised. But apparently this is covered by the statute; well our government have obviously covered that when drafting the bill so no one can complain, much!
Bill Longmore does not seem to be making a very good start in his new post...all I would say is we are now at the mercy of this man and Policing in West Mercia will never be the same again and much the poorer for it!
As retired Police officers both Barrie Sheldon and Bill Longmore will be collecting substantial Police pensions, topped up with their PCC salaries, both from the local Police Authority Police pension funds. I am comforted to know that we shall be spending our money wisely.
In David Shaw we have one of the very best Chief Constables ACPO possesses, who was more than capable of making the right decisions with the existing Police Authority, without this waste of tax payers money. I just hope CC Shaw has the patience to sustain Longmore's/Sheldon's depredations and remain at West Mercia's helm.
As an retired Police Officer this whole issue makes me very sad and somewhat ashamed.
bobby47
says...
8:42pm Fri 14 Dec 12
Aint it a kick in the guts! Tell me Chris, what do the troops think or are they so young and inexperienced they dont fully comprehend the enormity of the situation they are in?
ChrisK62
says...
9:07pm Fri 14 Dec 12
I'm sure that the officers on the ground are just struggling to keep up with delivering a service since losing so many resources in the cutbacks. I know that most of these that I speak to are massively demoralised by the lack of support that Government, not their own bosses are giving them. Have a look at the latest nonsense coming from the Tory think tank document Policy Exchange Policing 2020 and you will see what I mean.
Just as an aside does anyone know if Bill Longmore fulfilled his electoral charity cash pledge of £20,000, now he's in place? I will be very surprised if he has or does.
bobby47
says...
9:50pm Fri 14 Dec 12
My warmest regards to you.
Ubique5740
says...
10:23pm Fri 14 Dec 12
Biomech
says...
2:03am Sat 15 Dec 12
I still don't understand it all, and don't claim to. I thought the PCC post was to take the place of the Police Authority. Now it just seems like we have them AS WELL and then they are dishing out even more jobs.
WYSIATI
says...
8:50am Sat 15 Dec 12
Am I losing it? (perhaps best not to answer that)
bobby47
says...
10:24am Sat 15 Dec 12
It's still there mate. It's on another related story with a different title.
dadgey
says...
12:35pm Sat 15 Dec 12
rogero
says...
12:31pm Sun 16 Dec 12
littlewhitebull
says...
3:19pm Sun 16 Dec 12
The following is taken from the Home Office website:
"The Nolan Principles
The 'Seven Principles of Public Life' should apply to all in the public service. These are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example."
With so many PCCs appointing deputies, admin' staff, etc, etc. I have come to the conclusion that we now live in a DD - a Deficient Democracy.
littlewhitebull
says...
3:19pm Sun 16 Dec 12
The following is taken from the Home Office website:
"The Nolan Principles
The 'Seven Principles of Public Life' should apply to all in the public service. These are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example."
With so many PCCs appointing deputies, admin' staff, etc, etc. I have come to the conclusion that we now live in a DD - a Deficient Democracy.
bobby47
says...
4:38pm Sun 16 Dec 12
I ain't a Gordon Brown follower but he's the only former public servant that I can think of who upholds these values. He gives all his earnings to charity and does not draw his PM pension.
Ubique5740 says...
9:46am Thu 13 Dec 12
I would think that all vacancies within the Public Sector have to be advertised,and (in theory) the best applicant is appointed.
The PCC has borrowed the HCC motto ,"Here I can ".