Greens snub commissioner elections (From Watford Observer)

Green Party opts not to field candidate in police and crime commissioner election

12:45pm Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

The Green Party has announced it will not field a candidate in the forthcoming police commissioner elections.

The party has also called for an independent to stand for the role and has raised concerns about power over the police being concentrated in political hands.

Voters in Hertfordshire will go to the polls on November 15 to elect the county’s first police and crime commissioner.

So far the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have all fielded candidates in the race.

The whoever wins the £75,000-a-year post will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Jack Easton, a spokesman for the Hertfordshire Green Party, said: "We believe that the role would best be filled by an independent candidate with relevant experience rather than the police being closely associated with a political party.

"We are encouraging potential progressive independent candidates to come forward and we will be asking them about the key issues which we feel need addressing in the election."