Why me?
On November the 15th 2012, the county went to the polls, and I have now been elected as
the inaugural Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner.
This page is intended to show you why I stood.
WHY AN INDEPENDENT?
Policing is without fear or favour… politics is not!
Dorset needs an independent person, who has a knowledge of policing, and is in a position to represent the wishes of the community.
You’ve heard it a lot recently, and you will continue to hear it. Policing is facing it’s biggest challenge in 40 years. The PCC role arrives at a time when Dorset Police numbers are going to be the same as in the 1980′s. That’s a challenge to ensure that we continue to drive down crime, with fewer numbers of officers and staff. Lower numbers at a time of austerity, when there is no more money. Low morale of our Dorset Force could be a real issue.
Dorset Police needs stability in 2013. It needs a devoted independent leader who can apply themselves to the job in hand – making Dorset safer. If elected, I will seek to increase funding to our Force.
My worry with national political parties is that national policy dictates our local policy, which is inherently wrong. My belief is “Dorset solutions for Dorset people”. This is your chance to ensure that Dorset Police stays on course, stays local, without Political Parties changing it’s direction, priorities and ethos.
WHY ME?
I am the best of both worlds, an ex police officer who knows how the system works, yet has no ties to Dorset police, so there will no ”old boys network” or favouritism to ex colleagues.
Of the 31 ex police officers standing nationally for election, I am the only one who is standing in another area to where I have worked.
I am in the community of Dorset a lot, I receive community views a lot. Rest assured I will hold surgeries in every part of Dorset to ensure I continue to represent your views.
I know how the police work. I see Dorset Police in action in my various charity and lay member roles. And they are good. But they could be better. Dorset Police, like other Forces, are too inward facing, constantly looking for ways to make themselves better…….when actually they should be more outward looking, searching for ways that OTHER agencies and people can make them better.
Not only do I care, I will also make Dorset a safer place.
WHAT WILL THE NEW DORSET PCC BE RESPONSIBLE FOR?
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) will aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within Dorset.
To provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, PCCs will be elected by the public to hold chief constables and the force to account; effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.
Police and crime commissioners will ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible, and will improve local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust.
They will also work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.
PCCs will not be expected to run the police. The role of the PCC is to be the voice of the people and to hold the police to account. It is therefore key to the role that the successful candidate represents the views of as many of the people of Dorset as possible.
I believe that for this role to work, the people of Dorset must elect a non political person, a person who has the wishes of the Dorset people, not a national political party, at heart. In other words – Dorset solutions for Dorset People.
A person who is truly local, and truly representing Dorset.
That is why I stood.
Thank you for visiting my site. Please get in contact with me if you want more
information, or want to tell me about your issues.
Kind regards
Martyn
