A stupid idea not thought through by stupid Theresa May when she was stupid Home Secretary. People elected by a few voters totally influenced by appearance and media image. This very much reflects stupid David Munro, then PCC in Surrey. Just the kind of thing he would have said. "Women should not submit to police orders. They should flag down a bus or get a taxi, possibly driven by Worboys".

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/01/...d-be-more-streetwise

another layer of bureaucracy and a meaningless cock-up.

People don't want a "democratic" say in Policing; they just want Police to get on the streets, do Police work and reduce harm rather than contribute to it.

PCCs are just another smoke screen and distraction from the real issue: Police have become a reactive response unit to acute incidence of violence (or political muscle e.g Covid) and given up on prevention of ubiquitous anti-social behaviour, theft, burlgaries and drug dealing.

When Govs start "handing power to the people" they are in fact attempting to give their responsibilities - and so accoubtability - away.

This is dressed up as an act of democratic respect for the little people; as manifested by your PCC.

Don't vote for a PCC: refuse to vote for any political party that won't give a cast iron guarantee to get Police back on the streets preventing rather than ocassionally just reacting to crime.

These meaningless PCC positions only seem to serve as crowning glories for careerist cops who, while working their way to the top, have managed to avoid the worst horrors of our brutal criminal justice system. I would rather see a few former prisoners recruited into the police force at the grassroots. The character of Mark played by Sean Bean in the recent Time series, for example, shows him coming out of prison with a fiery determination to turn his life around. I think he would make a great cop or probation officer given the chance. I feel the same about the author of the following Guardian review of the series.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/ju...-bean-stephen-graham

Sorry for erroneously saying that PCCs come from police ranks. I’ve just looked at the list of those recently elected and most are politicians! I think this adds substance, however, to my main point that the bearers of this office seem far removed from the dreadful brutalities of our criminal justice system.

And police reaction? More stupidity. Call 999 if you don't trust them??? Talk about bolting the stable door! There are not hundreds of police perverts stopping innocent women and kidnapping them. There was one loony, now locked up. Worboys? Never take taxis again??? And the woman cop who made the announcement is either a heavy drinker or applied far too much rouge to her cheeks before being on TV. Or else she was blushing with embarrassment at having to talk shit.

Yes the idea MD is that PCCs are "civilians" who hold the Police in your area to account for performance and priorities. You vote for them. Just as your local MP is in the Commons to represent you, your PCC does the same within the local Police area.

The system works as well as it does in the House of Commons (*poker face*).