The Home Secretary's recent speech about Police & Crime Commissioner's (PCCs) first year in office suggests the concept is right but delivery is mixed. But before I get to her three 'tests' it is worth mentioning experiences I've gained from Staffordshire as well as from across the country. PCCs are about adding value. One component should be widening the horizons from a temptation to look only for new ideas and cultures from other parts of the policing sector, to understanding how non-policing sectors do their business, public and commercial. If a PCC is so enamoured with what they find because of helicopter flights, early morning raids and 'secrets' they soon become sycophantic rather than objective. Not 'mentally' becoming part of the police is critical as is representing the electorate to the police, not only the police to the electorate. My previous local government time of three years with political responsibility for a £400m department budget was on the job training for this role. I learned how to see things, how to overcome officials who are happy with the status quo and above all how to avoid being defeated, albeit sometimes deflated, by 'the system'. Despite the 'no politicians' mantra of the PCC election I know that experience saved me two years of just understanding what needs to happen and how.
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