Election for Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner
This will be on 6th May https://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/area/nottinghamshire
The candidates are:
Caroline Henry – Conservative
David Watts – Liberal Democrat
Paddy Tipping – Labour and Co-operative Party
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s primary responsibilities are:
• holding the chief constable to account for the delivery of the force
• setting and updating a police and crime plan
• setting the force budget and precept
• regularly engaging with the public and communities
• appointing, and where necessary dismissing, the Chief Constable
Because they are central to policing administration, I thought it appropriate to write to candidates and ask for their views on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, currently before parliament.
Both Watts and Tipping replied very quickly, with Paddy Tipping also asking for my views and thus starting a dialogue on the subject. After four emails trying to elicit a response from Caroline Henry, the conservative candidate still hasn’t replied or acknowledged. …. to be expected really I guess.
I asked:
Subject: Views on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
With the approach of the elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, it occurs to me that it would be interesting to know your position on on variety of subjects.
But, for this request, I think one of the most important to policing at large will be Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently before parliament.
May I ask for your views on this legislation and if you might have offered advice to government on strengthening or ammendment.
Regards
Alan Lodge
David Watts replied:
Dear Alan
Thank you for your email. Putting it simply, the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing bill is one of the biggest attacks on liberties and personal freedoms that has ever been proposed in this country. The right to protest is fundamental to any democratic state, and Priti Patel wants to take that away. To face the risk of ten years imprisonment for being “seriously annoying” is a horrifying thought.
I have produced a video for social media setting out my utter opposition to this bill. You can see it at https://youtu.be/Hf-2v4UDP3s. You can also find out more about my campaign and my beliefs at www.davidwatts.org.uk and at https://www.facebook.com/DavidWattsForNotts.
Best wishes
David
Paddy Tipping [existing PCC] replied:
Dear Alan,
As you know, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill contains a whole range of measures. Many of the proposals like increased sentences of the Police Covenant are positive.
There are, however, areas for concern which I have already raised with the Home Office. These include the proposals around unauthorised encampments; serious violence reduction orders and proposals to limit demonstration. I’m concerned that the Bill contains no proposals to protect women and girls from violence.
The Bill will take about a year to work its way through Parliament. There will be opportunities to discuss and amend the Bill. I’m particularly keen to see greater protection for shop workers.
Finally, I’d be interested in your views!
Best wishes,
Paddy
Paddy Tipping
Police and Crime Commissioner
My response:
Labour and Co-operative party candidate in Nottinghamshire Police Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire
nopcc@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk
Saturday, 17 April 2021
Hello again Mr Tipping
Thank you for your reply. I had written to all three of the candidates. Mr Watts for the LD’s was also quick to reply:
” Thank you for your email. Putting it simply, the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing bill is one of the biggest attacks on liberties and personal freedoms that has ever been proposed in this country. The right to protest is fundamental to any democratic state, and Priti Patel wants to take that away. To face the risk of ten years imprisonment for being “seriously annoying” is a horrifying thought.”
I have now emailed Caroline Henry for the conservative 4 times now, still without even an acknowledgement! You would have thought that the Torys might like to ‘stand up’ for these proposals…..
My own thoughts: With most reports on the TV and print that I’ve seen, lead on how great all this is because serious crimes like rape etc all need longer prison sentences. Something many of us would agree with and then not mention the rest of it. Perhaps it might have been better to bring forward the Rape [increased penalties] Bill to deal with this. Also, after the consultation had finished, the Covid situation arose, people are then criticised for protesting about it during the restrictions. Perhaps such contentious legislation could have been postponed till after all this, but no … it has provide convenient cover.
Some of the rest of it concerns the protest, a cornerstone of democracy to voice concerns. It describes noise and disruption and inconvenience etc … all attributes of a protest, to draw attention to the issue at hand. This can be as few as one, with a megaphone or a sign. Up to now, police frequently say that they are facilitating lawful protest, but this law may make any protest unlawful. [Hong Kong come to mind] . Further I don’t think the unions have quite grasped some of the implications yet.
Another area of major concern is unauthorised encampments. Many of which result because of a local authority being unable or unwilling to provide authorised sites. It had been a routine for 40 years that as soon as a site is proposed, local residents object. Then 1986 Public Order Act first invoked the idea of ‘criminal trespass’ which was later strengthened by the POCJA 1994. Now increased sanctions are proposed that will result in further eviction, probably now including the confiscation and destruction of homes and property. I am not so sure police wish to be placed in this position to support this action. Not to mention the likely increased pressure on housing waiting lists that will result.
In short, I think most of it is thoroughly illiberal and should be opposed. You may know that I am a member of the National Union of Journalists. I Nottingham Branch, we recently debated some of this and my union is thoroughly opposed.
I made a short speech about these issues at a recent protest, which you can see here: https://youtu.be/Kx0_4Nf5Y28
I wish you well in the election and hope if elected, there might be some common sense applied to application if/when this lot gets enacted.
Regards
Alan Lodge
ALAN LODGE MA, BA(hons), ARPS, AIVA
Photographer – Media: Nottingham. UK
Email: alan@alanlodge.co.uk
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
