Category: Election

1) What issues in crime and policing does Great Yarmouth (town and borough) face that are unique to the area?

According to recent crime figures for Great Yarmouth, the most prevalent crimes are anti-social behaviour (ASB) and violent ones. In 2013 for instance, the ASB rate in Great Yarmouth was above the national average . Similarly the number of violent and sexual crimes and the amount of of drug-related offences was well above the national average and thus more action needs to be taken to remedy these. However, it is also worth pointing out that these figures showed that vehicle crime and burglary rates were low in the town and borough. Continue reading Concentrating on Yarmouth… my responses on how to make Great Yarmouth Safer

This Saturday, the Green Party will be unveiling their manifesto on “Policing in the East” alongside the the party’s representative in the House of Lords, Baroness Jenny Jones.

The party’s proposals are set to focus on ensuring the establishment of better communication between the community and local constabularies and ensuring that the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office is more transparent to allow greater public awareness regarding what the post entails. Continue reading Green Party PCC Candidates to Unveil Election Manifesto on “Policing in the East”

Green Party Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, Martin Schmierer, says that if elected on May 5th, he will do whatever he can to help rough sleepers, at a time when several councils have investigated plans to fine them for “antisocial activity”.

Across Norfolk the number of homeless has increased drastically over the last couple of years, with the number in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk almost doubling in 2015. [1] This followed a similar rise in Norwich. [2] Continue reading “Let’s help rough sleepers, not fine them,” says Green Party PCC candidate for Norfolk

Green Party PCC candidate, Martin Schmierer, has warned that the forthcoming local elections could be marred with problems, with two different voting systems being used and added EU referendum election ballots being potentially included.

On May 5th voters will go to the polls across Norfolk to elect their next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

There are also simultaneous local council elections going on in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, while the PCC elections use a form of supplementary voting system. Continue reading “This election could descend into a farce” warns Green Party PCC candidate for Norfolk.

I am very concerned that turnout will not be much higher than last time and I think much of the blame for this must go to the government who introduced this extra layer of bureaucracy. In my experience on the doorstep, There is simply no public appetite for making policing party-political in this way. Residents want the police force to be accountable, not partisan.

After speaking with many residents about this, most people do not know what this role entails. Even though the Electoral Commission, in its report on the elections, stated that the low turnout was “a concern for anyone who cares about democracy“, the lessons do not seem to have been learnt. Continue reading No public appetite for making policing partisan