Fareham council leader puts name forward for Hampshire police role
112208_CAT_MEETING_20/06/11 Fareham Town Council leader, Sean Woodward, speaking at a public meeting at Neville Lovett school, Fareham. Community Action Team meeting regarding 7,000 new homes planned for north Fareham. Picture: Allan Hutchings (112208-841)
THE leader of Fareham Borough Council could become the first elected person to hold Hampshire Constabulary into account.
Councillor Sean Woodward has put his name forward to become the county’s first police commissioner.
The new role would take over from the current Hampshire Police Authority and would make the chief constable answerable to him.
Cllr Woodward, who has been a councillor for 26 years, said: ‘This role is about being the voice of the people and holding the chief constable into account.
‘Currently the police authority is made up of unelected members.
‘After seven years on the authority it’s something I am interested in doing.
‘If I were elected I would ceast to be the leader of Fareham council.’
Elections for the new role take place on November 15 this year.
‘In my view police are there to catch criminals and deter crime,’ added Cllr Woodward.
‘But a lot of policing work ends up being done behind a desk.
‘One change I would like to make is free up officers’ time from behind the desk.’
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Comments
There are 32 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Andy Smith
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 12:41 AMDon't forget that each party has to 'select' their candidate yet so it is no foregone conclusion that Sean Woodward will get the nomination. There are other Tories out there who have the skills and experience who might give him a challenge. For instance, Stephen West from the Basingstoke area who is well thought of on the Council and has actually had real experience wearing the blue unifrom. I heard him speak last year and he not only seems to have a firm grasp of the issues but also comes over as being down to earth, something that many of these "local heroes" lack. I know of at least one other leading Tory in the Basingstoke area interested in serving as Commissioner. May the best man (or woman) win! Andy (Chineham)
sidious
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:52 PMSo I guess the upshot is that people would rather see an experienced ex-police officer in this role than someone with a dubious history that's full of letting the side down. It's telling that the only individual that thinks he'd make a good job of it is someone who gets paid to say things like like.
Shaun Cunningham
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 07:34 PMNick—I read your comments with a smile— The Police Commissioner needs to have a number of important qualities , I put it too you; any Commissioner to be affective in the job needs to have real depth of knowledge in Policing and Crime, do you believe in all honesty Councillor Sean Woodward has that knowledge ? Yes he may sit on Hampshire’s Police Authority but is that really enough to do justice too such an important position. Where is Councillor Sean Woodward grounding in police operations in attacking crime, his words “In my view police are there to catch criminals and deter crime,’ well any sane person would conclude that. But I believe the Police Commissioner needs other qualities not just commitment that’s way down the list of attributes, but the ability to work with others who may not share his opinions, no matter who they represent, no matter what their back ground is, well on that front we look no further in how he operates his Leadership of FBC. He has no time for the opposition whether it’s the public or fellow councillors, especially if they have the front to challenge his ideas. The New Police Commissioner needs more than commitment but the quality and ability to work with others in an effective and efficient manner. To see so many politicians falling over themselves to become Police Commissioners fills me with dread, perhaps the lure of £100,000 a year may be having an unsettling effect on them, my only hope a person who truly understands policing will come forward and apply real qualities to the job.
bigchill
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 10:01 PMRe #23: Your entry is your opinion to which you are most certainly entitled. I would just add that your own swings and roundabouts with honesty and ethical behaviour toward the constituents in your ward does not make you the most eagerly sought out person to offer a recommendation. My opinion is that your comments are extremely unsophisticated,ill advised and quite laughable. Explore new opportunities...should be supported. Served this Borough? Service is being in the armed forces. Service is volunteering a few days a week to help others or worthy causes. Service is something you do because it makes you feel better about yourself, not because it lines your pockets or reinforces your own sense of superiority. Pocketing £50,000 a year from Hampshire taxpayers is not Service. It is more than many people earn in full-time employment. In my opinion, if other councillors do support this ridiculous notion it will probably be due to the desire for an easy way to assist his long-overdue departure from their midst.
Just Passing
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 08:28 PMThere could be some confusion if she does. One is known for their massive boobs and the other is a celebrity model once married to Peter Andre :-)
DozyRosie
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 03:54 PMHas anybody heard whether Katie Price has decided to stand for the position as well?
DozyRosie
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 02:48 PMIf one understands that a Chief Constable usually rises through at least some ranks to achieve the pinnacle of the force, he or she has an understaning of policing and public accountability. Why do we need yet another upper level of overview? Why not require the Chief Constable to be as accountable as it is intended the Police Commissioner should be? A direct past involvement in policing seems to be about as important as the need for a Principal of a college to have been a teacher. They tend to be "bean-counters", focused on finances rather than operational successes. Clearly any selected candidate should at least carry the confidence of the populus. Judging by the remarks of some on this board, there are those who think otherwise.
sidious
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 02:37 PM@23 Mr Gregory - did your esteemed leader write that down for you or did you manage all that from memory?
Gosport Lass
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:54 AMCall me naive but does a Police Commissioner not have to be qualified with years of policing experience ?! as opposed to local government experience. Bit of a kick in the teeth to all the highly qualified, high ranking, long serving police personnel if this man gets the role.
Nick Gregory
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 09:22 AMI feel that any person who wants to explore new opportunities after giving so much to the public and Borough in the past should be supported. Councillor Sean Woodward has served this Borough and the people for 26 years as a councillor and 13 years as Leader, No easy task. To me this shows commitment to the roles he has been elected to by the people and his peers, I am sure that all councillors will fully support his decision, should this position be what he wants. If he is elected to this position, I am sure he will show and demonstrate the same commitment to the police as he as to this Borough.
sidious
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 09:32 PM@21 So, you're saying that maybe the interviewing body might like to probe Mr Woodward's moral and ethical integrity before considering him for this post?
bigchill
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 09:21 PMRE #17 & 18: The paper doesn't need to ask as it printed the story at the time. Mr. Woodward has been censured and thrown out of his own party, censured by his own council, and censured by a school governing body. Less likely that anyone asked him to consider this position. More likely Mr. Woodward demanded to be considered, as RE #13, £100k would be TWICE what he reels in from Hampshire taxpayers currently. He's a local embarrassment, but it seems grossly unfair to foist him on the rest of Hampshire.
sidious
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 09:12 PM@17 It's true that we only have his word for it that he's backed by his peers; he could be making it all up. It's also true that he was censured by the Conservative Association in 1996 for conduct unbecoming a member. He was also the first councillor to be censured by his own council in 1995 for conduct unbecoming and "misleading the council and the people of the borough". He remains one of the few councillors not to be chosen worthy of the mayorship by his peers on the council. That's some feat considering the length of his tenure.
griffon
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:40 PMAnother gravy train created for position seekers and time servers. If this smarmy little guy had any influence over the police I would be seriously worried.
loxeef
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:22 PMThe News should ask the Tory Party if that's true...
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