Search is on for new police boss
HIRING and firing chief constables and setting police budgets are among the powers available to the holder of a new position which county politicians have started voting on.
The three main political parties in Northamptonshire have started the search to find a candidate for the new position of Police and Crime Commissioner, which will come into force following elections on November 15.
The Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats will all field a party candidate for the new role.
Once in post, the new commissioner will have powers to set police budgets, hire and fire chief constables and set local policing priorities.
The role is likely to come with a large pay cheque and will be decided following a single countywide vote.
Kettering MP Philip Hollobone said: “The Conservative party will want a candidate with lots of campaigning experience and understands how important the issue of law and order is to local residents.
“I think the commissioner is important because they will improve the accountability of the local police.
“The buck stops with him or her, and I hope that will lead to an improvement in local policing.”
Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Corby, Andy Sawford, said: “People will self-nominate. What they are being asked is what is their experience of being active in the community, and in particular what they would bring to the role.
“We will be looking for a person who has a clear idea of the role and who has relevant experience. This can be anything from running a community organisation to being a councillor.
“It is a very significant role. We want someone who will work with the community and who will also have a good partnership with the chief constable.”
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Wind direction: East
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