Friday, 19th October, 2012
Dyfed-Powys triple bill
Chris v Chris
The statement of candidates nominated for the Police and Crime Commissioner election in November has been released today:
There’s no surprise that only two candidates have applied, and will fight it out for your vote in Dyfed-Powys: Christine Gwyther for Welsh Labour, and Christopher Salmon for the Welsh Conservatives.
Whilst Gwyther gives her full postal address, I notice Salmon offers up only “Old Radnor.” Perhaps he fears a past rival with an axe to grind may track him down!
Police recruitment process called in to question
An ex high-ranking police officer who applied to become Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police back in 2008 has won a tribunal, requiring the police force to reveal information about the appointment process.
Howard Roberts became suspicious when the top job was given to Ian Arundale, as he thought he was very highly qualified for the post.
Roberts, who was the Deputy Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Constabulary at the time of applying for the role, sent off Freedom of Information requests to the force after learning he was turned down, asking for information relating to his selection process.
Some of the information in the form of documents were disclosed, but in redacted form, and not in all of the criteria he had requested was forthcoming. He appealed, and at the tribunal, Judge David Farrar QC ordered the information to be disclosed.
The Western Mail reports that some of the information requested related to one of the members of the appointment board “…who Mr Roberts believes stymied his chances of appointment to the post.”
The Western Mail article can be found at the following link: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/10/18/91466-32055348/
Police panel appointments process called in to question
At yesterday’s meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, the leader was asked what criteria he used in determining his hand-selected appointments to the Police and Crime panel who will hold either Christoper Salmon or Christine Gwyther to account.
The question was submitted by Councillor Tessa Hodgson, and in answer, the leader said his decision was based on criteria such as: the type of ward they represented, the experience they had, where their wards were located, and concluded by saying that one was male and the other female.
In her follow-up, Cllr. Hodgson reminded Cllr. Adams that all of the council’s unaffiliated councillors had contributed to the formula which gave him two ‘independent’ panel members to appoint, and so in light of this, asked whether or not he had considered appointing any of the council’s ‘ugly idiots’ to these appointments. The leader said he hadn’t ruled out the unaffiliated councillors for consideration, but using the criteria, they went to his own.
Much like Howard Roberts in the preceding story, I’m bitterly disappointed and I too have suspicions about the selection process!
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Anyone interested in knowing where ‘Chris’ Salmon lives can find out from a snobby website detailing the ins and outs of the peerage.
He’s quite shy about other things, as well, but the same source tells us he went to Winchester, Oxford and Sandhurst. Just like most other sons of Welsh farmers, then.
I think both of the candidates in this race could be described as ‘shy’ judging by the lack of publicity they’ve each created. I know it’s a large area, but I haven’t had a leaflet, visit or telephone call from either candidate or anybody representing their party, and I don’t know of anybody who has, either. Perhaps they are leaving it until the last minute.
That reminds me of an amusing story I was told the other day. A young Tory tele-canvasser was recently dialling his way through a long list of Pembroke Dock telephone numbers.
One of the recipients of his calls took particular offence and he couldn’t figure out why – until, the story goes, he realised he was speaking to none other than Christine Gwyther!