Your Opportunity to change Policing

On the 15th of November 2012 the election of the Sussex PCC (Police & Crime Commissioner) will take place. For the first time the electorate will have a direct say in policing. The Police Minister Nick Herbert said in a speech that this will be

"a new era in policing, when local people will elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex" .

Up until now the Sussex Police Authority has had this power; Who are they?, what do they do? I think most ordinary residents will be unable to answer that question.This will all change with the election, the electorate will be able to decide what Police force they want and how it operates. This is why I am putting my name forward to be chosen as the Conservative Party Candidate.

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Thursday 22 March 2012

Sussex Police Community Support Officers (PCSO's) do not work after midnight, why?


PCSO uniform
 PCSO’s in Sussex are prevented as a matter of policy of working after midnight, when I have enquired why this was the case, the reason given was that it was Sussex Police’s policy and this was due to budgetary issues. 
 PCSO’s earn just under £20,000, Sussex has approximately 390 PCSO’s and their basic salary is within SPA 7 grade (£18,093 to £19,770). They do not have the power of arrest; PCSO’s are not replacements for Full Constables but are the eyes and ears for the Full Constables and do prevent crime.   I believe that PCSO’s have an important role and the role gives a career path to becoming Full Constables.  I also believe that they should be allowed to work after midnight, and it’s ridiculous that they are prevented from doing so. 


  If I was elected as PCC I would insist on this change. It would be very useful operationally  for them to be available on Friday & Saturday nights to allow them to police the Night Time Economy and work up to 0300hrs, but why have any restrictions at all?  If you remember back to the riots in August 2011, manpower was stretched to the limit, so I would support lifting all restrictions on PCSO working.    

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But in addition there are also Special Constables, Specials are a valuable community resource and are a useful tool to re-enforce Full Constables and PCSO’s.  There should and if elected there will be a concerted effort to reach out to communities and recruit many more volunteers to be Sussex Specials.  This is and would be the Big Society in operation  



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Rt Hon Nick Herbert (Police & Justice Minister) & Paul Dendle

Rt Hon Nick Herbert (Police & Justice Minister) & Paul Dendle
Nick Herbert (Police Minister) meets Paul Dendle on the streets of Arundel