The election almost no one wants takes place today (November 15) for police and crime commissioners and there is likely to be a record low poll.
Few people, even among those reasonably well informed, know much about the commissioners – and even less about the candidates since they have been denied the normal right to have a free delivery of leaflets to homes.
Yet the commissioner chosen tomorrow in Sussex will be paid £85,000 a year, be able to set budgets and to hire or fire the chief constable.
The idea is to make policing more accountable but this has failed to catch the attention of most potential voters in Sussex and elsewhere.
This post is supposed to be non political, yet four of the five candidates in our county represent the main parties. Only Greens have failed to field someone and they, like many people I know, will spoil their ballot papers rather than cast a political vote.
Questions unanswered
Until now the role of keeping an eye on the force has been that of the Sussex Police Authority. I have often reported its work and generally it seemed to be doing a good job.
I can’t imagine the role of commissioner will take more than one day a week which raises the question of what the winning candidate will do the rest of the time. In many cases the answer will be to get in the way of the police.
The elections also sidestep two important questions. One is whether it is a good idea to have 41 separate police forces in this country rather than a single force as in Scotland.
When so much policing is national or even international, many forces seem far too small and the casualty rate among senior officers for misdemeanours is worryingly high.
At present we have a good force in Sussex and an excellent chief constable in Martin Richards. But it has not always been that way as anyone knows who has studied the county police.
The second question is what do we want from our police? Do we really want to go back to a Dixon of Dock Green age of stolid, old constables dispensing rough and ready forms of instant justice?
People often say they want more bobbies on the beat but I’d rather most were in cars fast enough to catch criminals.
We want police to keep law and order during violent demonstrations, yet chide them the moment one puts a size 12 foot wrong when making instant decisions.
Police are called plods if slow and docile and pigs if officious. We want them to tackle crime, no matter how minor, even though successive governments have burdened them with huge amounts of bureaucracy.
We expect the same level of policing as in the past despite huge cuts imposed nationally in staff and finance.
And what of the candidates? In a Conservative county the winner will almost certainly be Katy Bourne, the Tory.
I met her last month when she was in Shoreham and have read her literature. She is able, articulate and a cut above likely winners in many other counties. She is also the youngest contender and the only woman.
The Liberal Democrats have chosen David Rogers, a professional politician for 35 years. He is immensely experienced and has chaired the police authority. I have known him since he first won a seat in Brighton and respect his judgement.
Day of reckoning
I don’t know Godfrey Daniel, the Labour candidate, but colleagues tell me he is a safe pair of hands, unlikely to be flustered, and that he has been on the police authority for many years.
Tony Armstrong from UKIP is the only contender to have served in the police. He has also taken the trouble to produce a clear statement of his aims. He has no chance of winning but is not just a token candidate.
By far the most interesting candidate is the only independent, Ian Chisnall. He is a street pastor well known in the voluntary sector.
Chisnall has led a remarkably active campaign, particularly in the electronic media. He has constantly responded to local issues.
I like him, his hard work and his genuine independence. But does he have the strength and ability to carry out the role of commissioner? Can a God-botherer become a Plod-botherer?
My mind won’t finally be made until I go to the polling booth on Thursday. But I shall vote and shan’t spoil my paper.
It’s possible to find out all you want to know about the election from The Argus and the internet. There is a good spread of candidates to suit most tastes.
Although it is not an election I wanted, we should never ignore an opportunity to vote when it is offered to us.
The candidates are taking it seriously and I hope we do too.
See all The Argus news stories about the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner election at www.theargus.co.uk/news/special/policecommissioner
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