Police Commissioner Elections Set For 15 November

Elections for selecting police commissioners for 41 force areas outside London will take place on 15 November, with each commissioner earning as much as £100,000 depending on the size of area under their control.

All information about the contesting candidates for the position of commissioner will only be available on a website, making seven million voters vulnerable, due to lack of information on candidates and election news and information, said the Home Office according to BBC.

According to information released, millions of people might never come to know the candidates contesting the commissioner's elections as information will not be provided door to door as in the case of member of parliament elections.

Elections for parliamentary and administrative positions have been funded by the UK government to make booklets of information pertaining to the candidate and elections which is then delivered to the door of voters to create better awareness on the political options or choices available to citizens of the UK.

The availability of information on the commissioners' elections only online was accepted with concern by the Election Commission in the UK which has expressed concern over the new developments saying: "Only providing information about PCC candidates on a central website will disproportionately affect groups that have low levels of internet access, such as the elderly and those who live in rural areas."

The role of police commissioners will involve systematic running of their forces, recruitment and release of employees.

Liberal Democrats have decided against fielding party candidates and instead will look at supporting independent candidates. The decision not to "actively contest" the elections is underlined by the fact that no national party cash is to be made available for local Lib Dem candidates that do stand, a Guardian report suggests.

An online survey of 1,878 people carried out by Comres for the Local Government Association, suggested that despite low awareness of the forthcoming elections, two-thirds of those questioned said they would vote.

One of the candidates who has thrown his hat in the ring is Lord Prescott, former deputy prime minister, who is planning to contest from Humberside. Former Labour cabinet minister Alun Michael will be contesting as the South Wales Labour nomination; Paddy Tipping, another former Labour minister, wants to stand in Nottinghamshire.

Former BBC Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross, who is keen to be a commissioner, said he doubted politicians would be suitable for commissioner roles.

The Lord Mayor of Hull, Colin Inglis, is considering standing for Labour in elections because of his previous experience as the chairman of Humberside police authority.

Peter Jones, the Conservative leader of East Sussex County Council, has begun campaigning for the police and crime commissioner position in Sussex, according to BBC.