Like many Brigg households, ours has recently received a copy of a colour newspaper produced in support of one of the candidates standing in the election on November 15 when folk on both banks elect the first Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner.
The commissioner will replace the Humberside Police Authority, with the Chief Constable remaining in charge of operations and day-to-day running of the force.
In due course, these commissioners will appoint Chief Constables and hold them to account.
As far as Brigg is concerned, a few questions spring to mind:
1) What will the turn-out be in the election?
2) Will there be similar public apathy to that existing in other calls to "go to the polls"?
3) How many polling stations will they feel have to be provided to deal with the voters?
Whoever gains the post should take two early steps, if this really is going to be an improvement:
1) Bring back the quarterly Neighbourhood Policing Meetings (Brigg's were in the Angel Suite) at which people could go along and question the police in public, rather than behind closed doors. These were axed a few years ago, seemingly as an economy measure.
2) Ensure a local police representative attends all monthly meetings of parish and town councils (also public forums).
It would also be a welcome step if the Humberside Police Commissioner attended many of these meetings across the area covered by the police force he is overseeing. It would enable the Commissioner to discover at first hand how things are going.
Just a reminder that Brigg Blog is non-political. We will be making no recommendations on how local people should vote in November's election. However, if supporters of any of the candidates want to draw our suggestions to the attention of any of those standing, they are very welcome to do so.
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