Hustings for police candidates

“It seems to me that there is a common thread, a theme, that drips through all of the rhetorical claptrap spouting, from all the candidates. They are in effect all singing from the same hymn sheet. That is the tabloid trappings of fear propelled propaganda. "If you don't vote for me, the plebs will murder you in your beds, rape your daughters and deal drugs to your sons. Vote for me and I will clap them all in irons and throw the key away." What a pile of dishonest trash. There is not one candidate that has come up with a half decent plan to run the police in a fair, workmanlike way and help the community live in a feel good atmosphere. The truth is that crime is a rare occurrence. More than none and less than 25% of the populace are convicted of a crime. I know not what the actual figures are, but the candidates do. Most crime is committed by under 25 year old males who are making a mistake. Probation helps them. The recidivists are a tiny minority that any local copper can list as 'the usual suspects', probably on one hand. Can we have some perspective please and an honest approach that makes one of you electable candidates?”

“Again, I think this is a total waste of time. It's another gravy train for party hacks, and where we should be asking serious questions about the effectiveness of locally organised policing (complaints made to 4 forces about Savile, but nobody joined it up) for the 21st century, we will just embed a system where commissioner will be lackey of Chief Constable and be part of status quo.”

“Quote ...The victor will be responsible for the political control of the Devon and Cornwall Police." unquote .... yeah right . Since when should the police be under political control ? Even though we all know it always has .This thing is an exspensive joke ( albeit a sick one when money is being used in this way for such an uneeded thing where it could be better spent ) and for what ? Someone who has no idea how the police work will be telling them how they want things ? Someone who thinks that their little place in devonport with a drug problem or wherever needs the same needs as some village in the middle of nowhere who has a poaching problem ? Just another thing invented to take our minds of more important things ... and your all sucked in .”

“"Hustings" definition = a group of trade union members brought in to a meeting of cross party candidates to disrupt a meeting. Oh, to be fair there may be 1 other person there who has responded to the 12 leaflets distributed by the Labour Party.”