South Wales and Dyfed-Powys police and crime commissioner survey results
Over half of people who took part in a new survey do not believe South Wales and Dyfed-Powys Police need a commissioner.
17.5 per cent of 135 people who completed our survey on www.thisissouthwales.co.uk said they believe their force needs the position.
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The public will go to the polls on Thursday, November 15, to elect police and crime commissioners, powerful new posts that come with the ability to control police budgets, hire and fire chief constables and decide policing priorities.
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There are four candidates in the South Wales Police election — Conservative Caroline Jones, Labour's Alun Michael, and two independents — Mike Baker and Tony Verderame.
The Dyfed-Powys Police election is between Christine Gwyther for Labour and Christopher Salmon for the Conservatives.
37.5 per cent of people who completed the survey said they won't be voting on Thursday.
Most respondents said they do not know who the candidates are, while over half said they do not understand the role.
Most respondents wanted the candidates to focus on anti-social behaviour, tougher sentencing and violent crime.
Many people said they believe force budget cuts will have an impact on policing in their area, with just 11.1 per cent of people saying they think the cuts will make the force leaner and more efficient.
Just 4.4 per cent of people who took part thought the commissioners should be paid more than the £65,000 Dyfed-Powys Police salary and £80,000 South Wales Police salary.
Many people said they would not be prepared to pay more council tax in order to address government funding cuts to Dyfed-Powys or South Wales Police.
75.7 per cent said they believe the role of the commissioner should not be political.
Comments
by JerryLew
Friday, November 16 2012, 12:07AM
“135 responses and this is called a survey that can be published! I found the polling station in Garden Village today quite by accident - I was walking my dog. It was secluded just next to the football pitches and kids play area. It had a sign outside and one less than 10 yards away - other than these I did not see any other signage locating the place to go - nothing on the main road and nothing on other local streets. What a waste of time and more importantly money.”
by richie2803
Thursday, November 15 2012, 10:56AM
“There has not been any leaflets, canvassing, or any other kind of information around here (Mt Pleasant) Most people have no clue who these people are and what they intend to do. I can't help but wonder if the residents of say Sketty, Derwen Fawr, Brynmill and the Marina are better informed?”
by Dan01
Thursday, November 15 2012, 10:16AM
“Unless one has access to the internet ( and I'd guess that 50% of voters in the area do not) there is only one name on the South Wales ballot paper that is recognisable to the majority of voters, i.e. Alun Michael, Labour candidate. There is a Tory candidate recognizable to that party's loyalists, but the two independents are completely unknowns as they have had no opportunity to publicise their candidatures. What sort of democracy is that?”
by hacker_jack
Thursday, November 15 2012, 9:45AM
“So over half of people cant even be bothered to find out enough to understand the role yet 70% say the pay is too high and 60% don't think they need one at all.
That just proves what the informed amongst us already know, that a large fraction of society are simply not fit to be given the vote.
51% admit to not having enough knowledge of the role yet only 27% say they don't know if their force needs one. That is at LEAST 24% of people who don't understand the role but are saying yes or no.”
by odinhouse
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 6:27PM
“Well i will be Voting for '' Labour's Christine Gwyther '' in Dyfed. Don't want a Tory Running the Police Force and their Budget , and there are a few past police officers standing, Don't like that , been on the inside and may have Friends in the Force...? may be wrong ...?”