Lisa Townsend is the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.
As someone who had concerns back in 2011 when PCCs were introduced, I know many of the arguments against the role, and I accept that there may still be valid concerns as we approach the fourth set of PCC elections in May.
It was disappointing therefore to watch the recent debate at Liberal Democrat-run Surrey Heath Borough Council and find that rather than engage in a meaningful discussion around how best to hold our police forces to account, councillors instead used the time to attack both my deputy and I – in particular, my firm stance that men, regardless of how they identify, have no place in women’s private spaces.
I say disappointed, rather than surprised, because I am used to this line of attack from the Lib Dems, whose leader firmly believes that some women have a penis. The Surrey Heath party in particular have been captured by elements of a militant version of Stonewall, accepting no less than strict adherence to the mantra that “transwomen are women”.
I respectfully disagree, as do many of my constituents. Regardless, as anyone with any experience of student debating will know, if you are having to attack your opponent personally you have probably long lost the argument.
In the spirit of co-operation here are some thoughts on the two main views I have come across as I approach my second election as Surrey’s PCC.
Should we revert to police authorities?
This seems to be the alternative offered when challenged and arguably has some merit. First, it requires an acceptance that in order to be effective and impartial there should be some mechanism for scrutinising our police forces, and I am going to assume that this position is one most agree with.
It was no surprise to hear councillors advocating that the mechanism should be to go back to councillors carrying out the role (as was the case under police authorities). I am often told, as though it were fact, that it was cheaper.
Yet in Surrey, members of the Police Authority claimed over £200,000 in allowances. My deputy and I both receive a salary for our full-time roles, coming in at significantly less burden on the taxpayer while also being able to concentrate full-time on what I believe is an important function of our democracy.
PCCs have gained further responsibilities following 2011, including chairmanship of local criminal justice boards, statutory responsibility for victims, the commissioning of vital services including women’s refuge and rehabilitation programmes. This work would still be required, and so far I have seen no alternative offered up.
Perhaps councils could take on the responsibility. But as I watch our local authorities scale back services, I wonder who will stand up for those victims.
Are elected PCCs are too political?
This suggests, first of all, that councillors are not political – and while I don’t want to generalise, some of my fellow Conservatives here in Surrey are both excellent councillors and brilliant politicians.
I work closely with a number of Labour PCCs in my national roles and while we may not agree politically, I have found them to be excellent representatives for their constituents and always intelligent enough to put the party politics to one side.
There was a fashion for electing independent PCCs in the earlier days (none exist now), buying the idea that they were thus above party interest, but I honestly don’t know any PCC who doesn’t act in what they believe to be the best interests of their constituents.
Notionally independent PCCs weren’t always that independent either: in Surrey, both my predecessors as PCC were Conservative Party members before losing the vote to become the Conservative PCC candidate. In other areas, PCCs hid their political allegiances in order to get elected. Is that really more better and more transparent?
Anyone who has seen the coverage on the recent protests in London or the Black Lives Matter will know that senior police officers can all-too easily become embroiled in political debates and protest. I couldn’t be clearer that anyone who takes the oath as an officer has no place getting involved in political debates, regardless of how strongly they hold that view in their private lives.
As PCCs we face no such restrictions and can therefore offer cover on difficult issues, including when it becomes necessary to criticise other elements of the criminal justice system – such as the Crown Prosecution Service – without our chief constables getting themselves into a tricky situation.
Finally, and always controversially, taxation. The duty placed on PCCs to consult with residents ahead of setting the year’s policing precept is an important one. Mine is currently open, and the results so far are interesting and not as I might have predicted before it started.
Ultimately I will have to take the final decision on whether to raise council tax by the £13 expected (and capped) by the Government. But I will do so knowing that I am up for election in less than four months and also that I have to do everything in my power to ensure that Surrey residents remain among the safest in the country.
Here in Surrey, the former Police Authority raised the precept by over 40% one year – and faced no such democrat accountability for doing so.
As so often with democracy, we must choose the best option from among a sea of non-perfect choices. Having seen the work my team and colleagues across the country do, I have no doubt that the public are best served by those who they can hold fully accountable.