Motion of no confidence in police commissioner (From Ledbury Reporter)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting MG NEWS to 80360 or e-mail us
Motion of no confidence in police commissioner
1:12pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Tom Edwards
Police and crime commissioner Bill Longmore
WEST Mercia Police's new commissioner is facing calls to resign after county councillors published a 'no confidence' motion in him.
Worcestershire County Council's Labour group wants Bill Longmore to quit, along with his deputy Barrie Sheldon.
A full council meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, where the party will press for a vote of 'no confidence' in the duo.
Although it will not force the duo out, the group is hoping it causes Mr Longmore embarrassment over the appointment of his deputy.
It comes after Mr Longmore, a former officer at Staffordshire Police, hired his former campaign manager Mr Sheldon as his £50,000 deputy against the wishes of the watchdog-style Police and Crime Panel, which said he has not followed an "open and transparent" process.
Councillor Alan Amos, Labour group deputy leader, said: "It was an appalling decision."
A joint statement has been produced by the duo saying they are "disappointed" by the motion.
It states: "We would ask that people judge us on our achievements over the course of the next three and a half years and not in a period when we have only been in office for around two months."
As the Worcester News revealed today, 140 police officer jobs will be axed in the West Mercia force area by 2016.
Comments(33)
TDH123
says...
2:43pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Hack
says...
3:17pm Thu 10 Jan 13
imustbeoldiwearacap
says...
3:59pm Thu 10 Jan 13
broadwas
says...
5:04pm Thu 10 Jan 13
BeeHiveBuzz
says...
5:41pm Thu 10 Jan 13
a) The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
b) The Chief Constable
c) Other members of the Police Force
The section relating to complaints about the PCC is the only one that does not have a functioning link; the other two do. Is this a coincidence?
BeeHiveBuzz
says...
5:44pm Thu 10 Jan 13
http://www.westmerci
a-pcc.gov.uk/Your-Vi
ews/Complaints/Makin
g-a-Complaint.aspx
spider666
says...
5:53pm Thu 10 Jan 13
whiskymac106
says...
6:23pm Thu 10 Jan 13
reflector
says...
7:13pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Mr Longmore has provided them with the ammunition they need by steadfastly refusing to come out and face his critics and continuing to ignore the concerns and criticisms expressed by the public as well as by councillors of all parties.
Sadly, I don't suppose it will make a scrap of difference but at least I applaud them for trying.
chapski75
says...
7:39pm Thu 10 Jan 13
So at the end of this we'll have a £400k windfall to spend. Maybe we could then put that money to good use and put some Police officers back onto the street!
Alternatively it could be split between all those who turned out to vote for a PCC, should be about £50k a piece the turnout was so low!
chapski75
says...
7:39pm Thu 10 Jan 13
So at the end of this we'll have a £400k windfall to spend. Maybe we could then put that money to good use and put some Police officers back onto the street!
Alternatively it could be split between all those who turned out to vote for a PCC, should be about £50k a piece the turnout was so low!
webadmin
says...
8:33pm Thu 10 Jan 13
BeeHiveBuzz wrote:BeeHiveBuzz - you are right, this link was not activated. I set this up and, when I did it, the Police and Crime Panel (who receive complaints against the Commissioner) did not have a web page set up. It was an oversight and the link is now active.
Here is the "Making a Complaint" page, where you will notice the lack of a link for the PCC:
http://www.westmerci
a-pcc.gov.uk/Your-Vi
ews/Complaints/Makin
g-a-Complaint.aspx
By the way, you could have used the 'Contact Us' links, of the Comment links if you want to contact the PCC office - they have worked since day one. Hope this helps.
PoorJoey
says...
9:31pm Thu 10 Jan 13
It amounts to canvassing and the misappropriation of public funds.
He should be dismissed immediately and a full police investigation launched as criminal offences may have been committed.
Mrfade
says...
10:15pm Thu 10 Jan 13
http://www.totalpoli
tics.com/history/571
3/where-are-they-now
-alan-amos.thtml
How the independents must be feared. Do we have faith in WCC? People are sick of the politicking
The county councillors having a vote of no confidence in someone else is an interesting scenario.
The former leader is in prison, and some might think that the council dragged it’s feet over an investigation into this nasty situation.
There was also reference to a drinking culture at County Hall which seemed to vanish, who was involved, what was it about?
Those with responsibility for ethics and scrutiny seem to have nodded off.
Agreed not the most astute move by Mr Longmore who has clearly made a bad judgement call, although I believe the rules allow him to do what he has done.
The police commissioner should be politically impartial if the position is going to exist.
If there is only one good thing about Mr Longmore and co it is that he is independent and clearly has no affiliation with either labour or conservative.
WCC are slashing £120 million from public services, they should be getting on with the job in hand, and swallow the sour grapes.
Do any of the councillors claim expanese in excess of £50,000 per annum?
thompson9100
says...
12:56am Fri 11 Jan 13
If WCC can take a motion of no confidence to try to oust Bill, can we as the public do the same to the ConDem government?
As this is a (albeit a sham) democratic process that put Bill there, as the public who elected him (even the vast majority who didn't use there vote are still compliant in doing so) we can only use democratic means to hold him to account. That means complaining, and ensuring our voices are heard when things are wrong.
The ConDem government set the rules and Bill has acted within those rules so far, even in the appointment of his deputy, so if anyone is to blame It's the ConDem government. If you look at other force area PCCs you'll find exactly the same thing happening with appointments of deputies.
I just hope Bill sticks to his pledge to donate £20k to related charity from his salary, and is transparent in doing so.
Finally, please look at the site as there us a consultation being undertaken by Bill as to if the police precept of council tax should rise, and his planned priorities for policing in West Mercia. That is at least a start in transparency, and a story the WN has missed thus far - BBC had it up yesterday for all to see.
Allan Whitehead
says...
7:18am Fri 11 Jan 13
reflector wrote:Surely, the public showed their contempt for these new Police and Crime Commissioners by not turning out to vote. A small majority of which I was one took the time trouble to vote for who they thought may have been the most likely to fill the post. However, when the actual turnout was revealed. One thing was obvious the general public would sooner had the finance used for these posts of Commissioner and deputy to have been used to place more front line police constables on the beat so as to be seen.
It may indeed be opportunistic for the Labour Group to propose such a motion but it is clear that Mr Longmore and his pal, Mr Sheldon, do not have the confidence of much of the general public. They are only echoing many of the views that have been expressed on this site and elsewhere and, as elected representatives, have a right, indeed a responsibility, to speak on behalf of the electorate.
Mr Longmore has provided them with the ammunition they need by steadfastly refusing to come out and face his critics and continuing to ignore the concerns and criticisms expressed by the public as well as by councillors of all parties.
Sadly, I don't suppose it will make a scrap of difference but at least I applaud them for trying.
Jabbadad
says...
8:13am Fri 11 Jan 13
reflector
says...
8:58am Fri 11 Jan 13
reflector wrote:Perhaps I didn't express this very well.
It may indeed be opportunistic for the Labour Group to propose such a motion but it is clear that Mr Longmore and his pal, Mr Sheldon, do not have the confidence of much of the general public. They are only echoing many of the views that have been expressed on this site and elsewhere and, as elected representatives, have a right, indeed a responsibility, to speak on behalf of the electorate.
Mr Longmore has provided them with the ammunition they need by steadfastly refusing to come out and face his critics and continuing to ignore the concerns and criticisms expressed by the public as well as by councillors of all parties.
Sadly, I don't suppose it will make a scrap of difference but at least I applaud them for trying.
Just to be clear, it is the proposers of the vote of no confidence who I am applauding. In Mr Longmore and his chum, who had the support of about 5% of the electorate so no mandate to do anything, I have no confidence whatsoever.
VINCETREVOR
says...
9:37am Fri 11 Jan 13
Politicians need be very worried as it is the public that decide. We are a democratic country and its time our main political parties realised this fact .
pronstar
says...
10:27am Fri 11 Jan 13
Jabbadad wrote:You going then?
I hear that Alan Amos and his fellow Labour County Councillors are holding their next meeting in the Phone Box in Spetchley Road. All like narrow minded politically driven supporters to attend.
Allan Whitehead
says...
2:57pm Fri 11 Jan 13
spider666 wrote:Let us hope that when the Labour Group proposes the vote that Party politics do not come into play. With the low percentage of votes cast for these posts, and the appointment of a close friend as a deputy. The majority has rejected these posts throughout the UK, by sitting on their posteriors and not voting. While nepotism is not illegal. During these tough economic times, many employers are lending a hand to struggling family members or friends by offering them employment opportunities. Ordinarily, in the private sector, nepotism (favouritism directed exclusively or mainly toward friends or relatives regardless of merit should be outlawed and more so when it happens in public arrange posts.
Absolutely pointless having a vote of confidence when it cannot be enforced should it be a "no",like he will care about it with his arrogance.
Lew Smoralz
says...
11:16am Sat 12 Jan 13
Get real everybody, did you really think that he could do this job on his own?
It is on the record that the deputy is not a close friend, just an ex-police officer with whom Longmore is acquainted.
To the Liebour party I would say stop trying your cheap political scheming, haven't you worked out yet that the public is sick to the gills with your dishonest political scheming and outright hypocrisy!
M@lvernite
says...
4:57pm Sun 13 Jan 13
It seems a nationwide theme developed regarding the election of PCCs - in most regions the successful candidate was the independent ex-policeman because the electorate felt the PCC should have police experience rather than being truly independent - presumably the chief constable already has a fair amount of police experience.
More Tea Vicar
says...
5:05pm Mon 14 Jan 13
The government has fouled up, quite badly, over the whole issue, imposing an election that few of us wanted.
What a contrast to their attitude to the idea of an EU referendum....
Having imposed the election, they then did so in a way that more or less guaranteed it would be a flop, with a high signature requirement and deposit, and little if any support for candidates, favouring the better-off and well-connected.
They proceeded with the expensive election at a time when they were cutting police numbers, which doesn't look shrewd.
And they appear to have written the rules in such a way that elected candidates can do what Mr Longmore has done.
Labour are no doubt being opportunistic. If their man had won, he might well have done the same thing, after all.
But the Tories are responsible, ultimately.
And as said - if they're so fond of democracy, why no vote on the EU?Why the frankly repulsive support for the unvoted, unloved plans to pave over the county, whatever voters think?
More Tea Vicar
says...
5:45pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Lew Smoralz wrote:Lew (love your name, by the way)
From day one everybody who followed the introduction of the new post knew there would be staff appointed as well. In one area not only is there a deputy, but 6 assistants as well.
Get real everybody, did you really think that he could do this job on his own?
It is on the record that the deputy is not a close friend, just an ex-police officer with whom Longmore is acquainted.
To the Liebour party I would say stop trying your cheap political scheming, haven't you worked out yet that the public is sick to the gills with your dishonest political scheming and outright hypocrisy!
Labour no doubt are just politicking. But the Tories caused this.
The electorate can't be blamed. They voted with their feet, which they kept firmly at home in front of the fireplace.
The Conservatives are responsible for this, from conception to execution.
I suspect the whole scheme will bed in, in the end. But the legislation seems to have been poorly though through, in terms of providing the administrative framework and the appropriate checks and balances.
And it is hard to square the Tories' attitudes to an EU referendum (don't let the plebs vote, they won't understand...) with the insistence on the PCC vote, especially at a time of police cuts.
Lew Smoralz
says...
10:57pm Mon 14 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar wrote:Thanks for your kind compliments concerning my name, it was given to me by my pater Righteou Smoralz, and mater Virteou Smoralz.
Lew Smoralz wrote:Lew (love your name, by the way)
From day one everybody who followed the introduction of the new post knew there would be staff appointed as well. In one area not only is there a deputy, but 6 assistants as well.
Get real everybody, did you really think that he could do this job on his own?
It is on the record that the deputy is not a close friend, just an ex-police officer with whom Longmore is acquainted.
To the Liebour party I would say stop trying your cheap political scheming, haven't you worked out yet that the public is sick to the gills with your dishonest political scheming and outright hypocrisy!
Labour no doubt are just politicking. But the Tories caused this.
The electorate can't be blamed. They voted with their feet, which they kept firmly at home in front of the fireplace.
The Conservatives are responsible for this, from conception to execution.
I suspect the whole scheme will bed in, in the end. But the legislation seems to have been poorly though through, in terms of providing the administrative framework and the appropriate checks and balances.
And it is hard to square the Tories' attitudes to an EU referendum (don't let the plebs vote, they won't understand...) with the insistence on the PCC vote, especially at a time of police cuts.
I was going to be named after uncle Religiou Smoralz, but my parents decided to be more modern and trendy e.g.Brooklyn Beckham was named after where he was conceived.
After some heated debate I was named after the small building in the corner of the Corn Market car park.
When referring to the Lib-Lab-Con party, are they all not the same nowadays? Whichever one of them forms the next Government, there will be little change for most of us.
- we will still be fed on a diet of lies
- we will still be in the EU
- we will still be paying Brussels £56M/day for them to steal and squander
- we will still have no say over 40% of the laws made by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels
- we will still have open borders
- we still won't be able to afford proper care for our elderly
- we will still have a struggling Health system
- we will still have the lowest public pensions in Europe
- we will still have less democracy than that enjoyed by previous generations
- we will still not be able to punish offenders as it will contravene their human rights
That is why I will be voting for UKIP in all forthcoming elections, as they offer the only real change for the better.
Jabbadad
says...
1:10am Tue 15 Jan 13
pronstar
says...
9:45am Thu 17 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar
says...
10:33am Thu 17 Jan 13
pronstar wrote:You're entitled to your view. I suppose it would be a bit boring to ask you to back them up.
You mugs
The Lib/Lab/Con parties are pretty much the same now, and are massively out of touch with public opinion and reality on some key issues.
More Tea Vicar
says...
10:33am Thu 17 Jan 13
pronstar wrote:You're entitled to your view. I suppose it would be a bit boring to ask you to back them up.
You mugs
The Lib/Lab/Con parties are pretty much the same now, and are massively out of touch with public opinion and reality on some key issues.
Lord Newbold
says...
10:43am Thu 17 Jan 13
More Tea Vicar wrote:More Tea Vicar.
pronstar wrote:You're entitled to your view. I suppose it would be a bit boring to ask you to back them up.
You mugs
The Lib/Lab/Con parties are pretty much the same now, and are massively out of touch with public opinion and reality on some key issues.
Pronstar is one of those who must have watched that Henry Fonda film. "12 Angery Men"
argued his point and at the very end was proven to be wrong.
More Tea Vicar
says...
11:01am Thu 17 Jan 13
Lord Newbold wrote:mmm, I've not seen that one. But it sounds about right. Except Pronstar doesn't seem to actually argue a point.
More Tea Vicar wrote:More Tea Vicar.
pronstar wrote:You're entitled to your view. I suppose it would be a bit boring to ask you to back them up.
You mugs
The Lib/Lab/Con parties are pretty much the same now, and are massively out of touch with public opinion and reality on some key issues.
Pronstar is one of those who must have watched that Henry Fonda film. "12 Angery Men"
argued his point and at the very end was proven to be wrong.
TmP says...
2:06pm Thu 10 Jan 13
With regards the 140 jobs to be axed by 2016 I imagine many of these will be natural wastage although I do feel we need more bobbies on the beat not less.