Coronavirus: Hampshire police and crime commissioner will 'continue to serve' as government postpones elections
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In an interview with The News shortly after the government decision was announced, Mr Lane warned people must adjust to a ‘new normal’ - and added he was ‘offended’ by people stealing antibacterial gels from public services.
Fears of the spread of Covid-19 have seen the government push back the May 7 polling day.
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Hide AdThere have been 798 confirmed cases in Britain, with estimates running between 5,000-10,000.
Portsmouth City Council and all other local elections have been postponed. Police and crime commissioners were due to be elected on the same day.
Hampshire police and crime commissioner incumbent Mr Lane told The News: ‘I’m conscious that we are at a time when the government is dealing with a pandemic and as a result if they’re nationally delaying the election, I believe it’s my duty to continue to serve.’
He added: ‘It would be entirely wrong of me to walk away or cause a by-election or some other thing - I have the mandate from the public in 2016.
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Hide Ad‘I have 49 years of public service, I would not walk away at a point when this country is facing a pandemic and needs people in post to do the very best they can. I would not
Mr Lane’s Conservative party in Hampshire had already de-selected him following him losing a Hampshire Police Federation no-confidence vote. Donna Jones, Portsmouth City Council Tory group leader, had been selected to stand in May.
Cllr Jones said she was ‘disappointed’ about the postponement but added: ‘I support the government in taking all steps necessary to keep the British public safe.’
She said she will work with Mr Lane and added: ‘This delay gives me extra time to get into the heart of communities across what is a large constabulary area, to fully understand the root causes of crime.’
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Hide AdAsked if he will appoint Cllr Jones as a deputy, Mr Lane said any such appointment if he needed a deputy next year would follow an ‘appropriate process’.
On the operational police response to Covid-19, Mr Lane said: ‘The policing family will be doing things that when they’ve got to manage the risk as all of us have to but they will need to be there to reassure the public and do their duty.’
He warned society needs to adjust to a ‘new normal’ and added it will pose a challenge just as climate change does. He added: ‘We will have to adjust to keep us safer.’
But he turned his ire on people stealing from public services. He said: ‘I’m offended every time I found people stealing gels from places or buying the gels disproportionately to create a shortage.
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Hide Ad‘Those behaviours need to stop so we can all be supported by the logistics, by shops and health service to the best of their ability and we don’t compound the problem by foolishness and other stupidity.’