PCC candidates can indicate their intention to sign the Committee’s “Standards Checklist” by providing an appropriate comment at the foot of this article, then contacting the Committee in Standards in Public Life to make their pledge.
Those who have signed are highlighted in Policing Insight’s “Who is standing?” article.
Candidates standing to be Police and Crime Commissioners at the May elections are being asked to sign up to a standards checklist by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Following their inquiry last year into local policing accountability, the Committee is calling for all candidates to declare their approach to conduct, appointments and hospitality so that the public can make an informed judgement when casting their vote.
Lord (Paul) Bew, Chair of the Committee said:
“The introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners has undoubtedly shaken things up. The arrival of an ‘unshackled’ democratically accountable figurehead has brought about new ways of working and greater public engagement in many areas. But there have also been concerns about the way some individual PCCs have behaved or the way in which some decisions have been taken. New proposals to give PCCs further powers over fire and rescue services means that ethical standards, scrutiny and accountability are even more important.
“Our role is to help promote the highest standards of behaviour by holders of public office. We hope the media will ask these questions about ethics when interviewing their local candidates and that candidates will publicise their responses on their campaign literature, social media and websites.
”As holders of public office, all PCCs must adhere to the Nolan principles of public life. We are asking all candidates to declare their approach to these important issues up front so that voters can make informed judgements about their future PCC.”
CoPaCC and Policing Insight are partnering with the Committee on Standards in Public Life to publish a list of those candidates who have signed up to the checklist. The definitive list will be published on PolicingInsight.com during April 2016.
PCC candidates can indicate their intention to sign the Committee’s “Standards Checklist” by providing an appropriate comment below, then contacting the Committee in Standards in Public Life to make their pledge.
I’m committed to this Standards Checklist http://www.neillewis.org/committed_to_openness_transparency_and_promoting_ethical_behaviour
I have lived by Army values and standards for 34 years. I have no hesitation and absolutely sign up to these.
I signed up this morning, I’ve also added to my list to include transparency of recruitment to the OPCC’s office and publication of all my PCC expenses. As the daughter of a former Police officer and an ‘army baby’, I believe the law is there for a reason.
As an elected Councillor I am well versed in scrutiny and challenge but I believe that many public authorities could be more open and transparent and that confidentiality should be the exception rather than the rule. I also believe that much more information should be published under the FOIA publication schemes.
I was therefore very happy to pledge my adherence to the Nolan Principles.
I am more than happy to sign the form. I am a firm believer in openness and transparency. I was for nearly 27 years a serving Police Officer and know the need to ensure that the office of PCC is easily accessible
Peter Corkindale
Happy to sign up to this pledge. I am concerned that the code, particularly in relation to employment procedures is weaker than it is for councillors.
Happy to sign this, my campaign in Warwickshire is committed to honesty and openness – ethical conduct doesn’t only begin once elected!
Happy to sign. I already comply with this checklist, as an incumbent I openly embrace the Committee’s report, and the Nolan Principles, and my intended Deputy is already declared and out there for voters to take a view on. Martyn Underhill – Dorset PCC
I am signing up to and fully endorse the Committee on Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist.
I am signing up to and fully endorse the Committee on Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist
I totally agree and I am extremely happy to sign the PCC checklist. SYPCC candidate
Yes most certainly, Lord NOLAN’s Standards in Public Life got it right and I also like the “Bell Principles” promoted by Martin Bell, the former anti-corruption MP and BBC war correspondent.
I’m am committed to and fully endorse the Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist.
I am very happy to commit now to the 4-point Ethical Checklist and, if elected, will agree a ‘Concordat’ with the Chief Constable of Surrey Police which will have at its heart the Ethical Checklist but will also expand to include issues specific to Surrey.
I believe that respect (not necessarily agreement!) should be at the heart of the relationship between the Commissioner and Chief Constable.
I will be signing up to the Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist.
I was delighted to sign. Honesty and integrity are essential for any PCC. So why has the Office of the Essex Conservative PCC used public money to promote candidates for the 2016 elections by helping to fund a hustings meeting on 15th March and why are they refusing to deal appropriately with the matter?
I suspect establishment influence against the public interest. No wonder the public so deeply mistrust politicians.
Dr. Bob Spink. #backbobspink
As Plaid’s candidate for the Police & Crime Commissioner election in GWENT, I am certainly signing up to the Standards Checklist by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. This is well worth the commitment and time of any PCC! https://www.facebook.com/Darren4Gwent/
I fully commit to the Standards Checklist. A Police & Crime Commissioner is the voice of the people & honesty & transparency are key to a successful PCC.
Good luck to everyone involved in the PCC elections 2016!
Chris Carubia
As a serving councillor for Wirral Borough Council who already operate under the Nolan principles I will be signing up to the Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist.
I have served for 36 years as a police officer with specific regard to the police values and standards. I have no hesitation and absolutely sign up to these standards.
Tony Harper Nottonghamshire candidate
I have no hesitation in signing up to these standards. 30 years of policing 5 years Magistracy. These values are welcome.
Bob Spencer
Independent PCC Candidate Devon Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
Delighted to sign. As the PCC for Avon & Somerset, my office and I signed up to this last year. Transparency is key to trust. I am committed to continue to uphold these Standards in Public life
Sue Mountstevens, Avon & Somerset
I’m on a quest for better leadership and support the 7 Nolan Principles of Public Life without question. As an experienced campaigner and ethical leader you can read more about my quest here. http://www.alisonhernandez.co.uk/news/quest-better-leadership
I will be signing up to the Standards in Public Life PCC Checklist
Patrick Canavan
Labour & Co-operative Party Candidate for Dorset
More than happy to sign up to the checklist. Real pleasure to receive quality mark for openess and transparency in OPCC West Mercia from Lord Bew last year.
I have signed up and believe that openness and transparency is essential to building confidence, fairness and trust.
Nicola Davies, Warwickshire
so where do we find the list of those who’ve signed? And what about all the candidates for Bedfordshire? Have they signed yet?
Thanks for the prompt, Nanci – we’ve amended the article to include a link to where those who have signed are shown.
Thanks! Am surprised so few have signed up given how important this is.
I’m happy to sign up to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s ethical checklist. Thank you for doing this.
Joe Otten, Liberal Democrat, South Yorkshire.
I have signed. Nowhere is it more important to behave ethically. Transparency, confidence and consent are essential in effective and efficient policing. All appointments should be the result of choosing the best person for the job.
[…] you signed up to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Ethical Checklist, and will you embed the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics within your own […]
[…] you signed up to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Ethical Checklist, and will you embed the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics within your own […]
I am happy to subscribe to these standards. i believe in the need for integrity in public life and have published my responses to the 21 questions on the Thames Valley Page in the comment section.
As a councillor and former magistrate I have been subject to DBS checking and have been vetted in the past for as a Westminster pass holder.
[…] You can read more about it On the Policing Insight Web Site […]
I am pleased to say I’ve signed up.
http://rme4pcc.uk/2016/04/10/ethical-behaviour/
I too signed up to this. However, it’s all irrelevant if I don’t abide by them so I will remind the public of them…. frequently. It’s not just PCCs who need to abide!
I fully support the Nolan Principles of Public Life. As a former Councillor and Vice Chairman of Audit and Governance, I encouraged and worked with the Borough Solicitor to introduce a better system of dealing with complaints against Councillors who received complaints about falling short of these standards.
Gwent Police have already welcomed the 2014 College of Policing Code of Ethics:
http://www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/news/story/article/gwent-pcc-and-chief-welcome-code-of-ethics/
In my opinion, in view of this already being accepted in Gwent then a better way of ensuring it’s effectiveness would be through scrutiny/performance and management/ Ethics Committees rather than in a police and crime plan.
Louise Brown
Therese Hirst PCC English Democrat candidate West Yorkshire
I am more than happy to subscribe to these Standards being a lawyer I care deeply about maintaining the integrity of public office which is fundamentally about service to others, and accountability.
@hirst_west