Commissioner candidate in row with police chief (From Daily Echo)
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Commissioner candidate in row with police chief
6:00am Monday 12th November 2012 in News
Simon Hayes
A CANDIDATE in the battle to become Hampshire’s new police commissioner has hit out at Chief Constable Alex Marshall in a row over his election leaflets.
Simon Hayes had hundreds of flyers printed in an attempt to spread his message to police officers and staff – but now faces having to destroy them. He was told that for them to be left around stations and communal police areas would compromise the force’s neutrality in Thursday’s poll.
The independent candidate, who thought he had stolen a march on his rivals with the plan, said: “The chief constable, in my view, is denying the democratic process because he is denying me the chance to talk to a major target audience.”
He added: “What I will do with them I don’t know. I will probably use them to light my fire in the winter months.”
His request to circulate an email around Hampshire Constabulary was also turned down.
He said: “They stuck to the line that all police officers must be impartial. I quite understand that, but I am not asking for them to appear in a photograph with me holding the leaflet.”
The leaflets had made up a “large part” of his campaigning budget, he said.
He added: “We are doing this with a meagre budget which is much less than the other parties are doing.
“I think that the fact that I have shown initiative to talk to the staff is important.”
The ex-Crimestoppers chief is up against Labour’s Jacqui Rayment, Tory Michael Mates, Lib Dem David Goodall, UKIP’s Stephen West and Don Jerrard of Justice and Anti-Corruption Party.
For a full list of the candidates and their profiles click here
Comments(17)
The Wickham Man
says...
7:33am Mon 12 Nov 12
Next.
Frank28
says...
10:00am Mon 12 Nov 12
Tottonion
says...
10:12am Mon 12 Nov 12
I won't be voting as I haven't received anything, nor are my neighbours. Who needs a "sheriff" any way?
Foundry Lane
says...
10:35am Mon 12 Nov 12
Boatman
says...
11:16am Mon 12 Nov 12
What is more I believe voting is this Thursday (is that true?) and I have received no communication from anyone.
10 Minute Man
says...
1:48pm Mon 12 Nov 12
I would vote for a candidate who talked about serving people, and not the pseudo-macho toughness BS that most of them spout.
On the inside
says...
1:52pm Mon 12 Nov 12
jarms89
says...
1:59pm Mon 12 Nov 12
They make up about 7000 potential voters and whilst they aren't allowed to promote candidates they are certainly able to be informed and persuaded to vote.
http://www.hayes4pcc
.org/p/police-messag
e.html
In my opinion, Simon Hayes has the credibility, experience and entering as an Independent candidate is free from party political pressures. (even if he is a past Tory, the key part is PAST). Hope that people make their vote count.
dolomiteman
says...
2:54pm Mon 12 Nov 12
The leaflets that you should receive in the post do not say who the candiates are it just tells you how to vote, it is upto the candiates to promote themselves via leaflet drops and door knocking.
As 'jarms89' states, Simon Hayes is the only true indpendant candiate, the others all have a political agenda if you read their speil.
www.choosemypcc.org.
uk.
skin2000
says...
5:44pm Mon 12 Nov 12
cantthinkofone
says...
8:47pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Of course he can't leaflet their workplaces for goodness sake. He's perfectly at liberty to campaign for their vote when they're off duty, but not whilst their on the job. Just basic bl00dy common sense.
The man's made a fool of himself.
cantthinkofone
says...
8:48pm Mon 12 Nov 12
Rob444
says...
10:13pm Mon 12 Nov 12
We don't need or want this nonsense, police run by someone with little or no experience of how the police work.
IronLady2010
says...
11:45pm Mon 12 Nov 12
So this left my only two choices as Independent and UKIP.
I could have chosen not to vote, but then I couldn't complain later.
IronLady2010
says...
11:49pm Mon 12 Nov 12
IronLady2010 wrote:So UKIP was first choice, followed by independent. I feel based on the info that is available this was the best choice. We should all vote and look into whom we feel is best. No point in moaning later if you didn't vote :-)
We didn't really have a great choice to be honest. Michael who is well past his sell by date, Labour who we cannot trust, Lib Dems I have no idea on who stood as I just ignored.
So this left my only two choices as Independent and UKIP.
I could have chosen not to vote, but then I couldn't complain later.
Raxx
says...
7:45am Tue 13 Nov 12
IronLady2010 wrote:I agree for those that don't vote just because they can't be bothered.
IronLady2010 wrote:So UKIP was first choice, followed by independent. I feel based on the info that is available this was the best choice. We should all vote and look into whom we feel is best. No point in moaning later if you didn't vote :-)
We didn't really have a great choice to be honest. Michael who is well past his sell by date, Labour who we cannot trust, Lib Dems I have no idea on who stood as I just ignored.
So this left my only two choices as Independent and UKIP.
I could have chosen not to vote, but then I couldn't complain later.
But there's also a fair proportion that don't vote because they've come to the conclusion that the whole system is a sham. They have every right to moan IMO.
Frank Insensed says...
6:57am Mon 12 Nov 12