Anger at move to recruit £55,000 'spin doctor' for police commissioner
CRITICS have attacked moves to recruit a media manager for the new police and crime commissioner saying people wanted officers "fighting crime" not "spin doctors".
Voters in Devon and Cornwall will go to the polls on November 15 to elect the commissioner, a system which the Government believes will increase accountability in local policing.
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But the change has not been without its critics, with some warning of the politicisation of the police service and others that turn out will hit an all time low.
New controversy has erupted over adverts for a "senior communications and public affairs manager", with pay of £45,000-£55,000, to work for the commissioner.
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Robert Oxley, campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, added: "We need officers on the street fighting crime, not spin doctors back at police headquarters.
"It's unbelievable that Devon and Cornwall Police Authority are recruiting expensive communications staff before a police and crime commissioner has even been elected.
"It smacks of a cynical attempt to establish this post before an elected candidate can prevent this unnecessary recruitment."
The public relations job is based on a 12 month fixed term contract.
The advert states: "This is a new role where we are looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual to develop a new communications function within the emerging office of the police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
"You will drive forward the communications and media strategy including being responsible for press and public affairs."
The closing date for applications is October 22.
The police authority, which is being abolished, has established a "transition board" to govern the move from one body to another.
It decided to create the post.
The board is up of senior authority staff, members and officers.
A spokesman for the authority explained: "All authorities are looking at what resources they can realistically envisage will be required for the new police and crime commissioner.
"There is a lot of work to be done at the point that someone is elected commissioner and that is why it was felt necessary to appoint someone on a short term contract to do some public relations work and build what is needed going forward.
"The police and crime commissioner will be directly accountable to communities and it is important that they are able to get their message out and can engage effectively with the whole of Devon and Cornwall.
"It will be for the commissioner to decide what support mechanisms they need for their period of office."
The new commissioner will set the budget and overall strategy for the force while operational policing will remain in the hands of the chief constable.
Comments
by kevinretallic
Friday, October 19 2012, 11:26AM
“things are looking bad for D/C lets create another job to make us look good”
by Cruyffkrol
Friday, October 19 2012, 9:32AM
“No doubt the same dunderheads commenting on this waste will be at the forefront
Of complaints about the PCC not communicating to them. The whole ethos of the
post is to bring the accountability of the police to the public. To do that there is need
to engage with the media. The notion of PCCs is flawed but as they're here don't tie
their hands behind their backs and then complain they're invisible.
It's a fixed term contract so not binding the PCC. Sensible and measured. The TPA is a bunch of right wing funded extremist fringe people who view any public spending as a waste. They're
probably should be rebadged the Tax Avoiders Alliance as their funders are probably expert in
'legal' tax minimisation.
TPA previously complained about local policing summary costs being high. Apart from being a statutory requirement top compare different forces that are different sizes, with vastly different populations and areas is laughable. That kind of TPA analysis as usual doesn't allow facts or common sense to get in the way with a "Look Wiltshire did it cheaper than Thames Valley!" Yes, because its no where near as big you absolute cretins!!”
by MPstink1
Friday, October 19 2012, 1:27AM
“Another false useless £55,000 job created by a corrupt County Council.....”
by robertgmam
Friday, October 19 2012, 12:08AM
“A shameful waste of public money( almost as bad as that being wasted on having an unwanted so-called Crime Commissioner). If the Crime Commissioner is to be an honest, upstanding citizen, why does he/she need a 'spin doctor'?
If you are going to bother to vote(and nothing would please me more than a zero percent turnout and, therefore, no mandate for this ridiculous post), please do not vote for a party political candidate. The Police( and everything associated with them) must never be party political, nor should they be perceived to be party political.”
by johnyboy7
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:41PM
“What a total waste of money, another ruse to create another fat cat.”
by Wordwizard
Thursday, October 18 2012, 11:45AM
“Those who are open and honest don't need spin.”
by sluscombe
Thursday, October 18 2012, 11:01AM
“What an utterly ridiculous waste of money!”