Lord Prescott pledges to tackle anti-social behaviour if he becomes Humberside police commissioner
Lord Prescott says tackling antisocial behaviour in North Lincolnshire will be one of his top aims if he becomes the region's police commissioner.
The former Deputy Prime Minister, who was this week announced as the Labour candidate for the role, told the Telegraph in an exclusive interview that listening to young people would be vital to stamp out problems in the area.
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labour candidate: Lord Prescott
He said: "Tackling antisocial behaviour seems the thing I have been hearing when speaking to people in Scunthorpe.
"The young people will play a major part in this, on how you deal with antisocial behaviour.
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"The visibility of officers and how this is dealt with is very different across the force from what I have seen.
"We introduced community policing and I have some strong ideas on how to use this to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Lord Prescott said the demographics of the Humberside Police area made it important to hear the views of each of the communities.
He said: "I know the perception of many people is that the Humber Bridge is the dividing line between the north and the south bank.
"I have some firm ideas, but it is important to find out what the community wants.
"The difficulty is that this will be different for the people in Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Hull and Bridlington."
Elections for the £75,000 a year commissioner role will take place on November 15.
But the idea of an elected police and crime commissioner was not something he or his party supported.
"I did not vote for this and neither did my party vote for putting the power in one person's hands," he said.
"However, one thing the commissioner role means is that decisions on policing policy will be made by people rather than within the police."
Lord Prescott said the battle with Keith Hunter for the Labour candidacy had been a close run thing, but he is hoping the two can work together.
No official Conservative candidate has yet been put forward. East Riding councillor Matthew Grove is so far the only Conservative to throw his hat into the ring.
Comments
by Bill_Igerent
Monday, June 25 2012, 3:44PM
“@Sparks2400
The Labour's NEC, local CLP's and TeamPrezza's desperation and fixation on Prescott's 'electability' (rather than his suitability come capability for the job!!??) has been all too glaringly obvious from the outset.
This is borne out by much of what some of his delusional, dimwitted AND nasty #teamprezza #JP4PCC Twitter campaigners and, what such as Labour List have been peddling on these elections:
http://tinyurl.com/7gcgg6l
"These are important elections for Labour; such high profile public positions could significantly raise the power base for Labour locally, putting the party in a stronger position heading into the next General Election."
On this evidence and more besides; I would argue that Prescott's candidacy and campaign for PCC has far far more to do with the Labour party's self serving interests.
Rather than the much wider and crucial interests of Humberside, its Police Service and the policing of the area's communities; all being secured by the prospect of a credible and successful PCC?!
But for such undoubted external influences and 'pressures' being brought to bear; I am convinced that Prescott's 94 majority would have been eroded and Labour locally, may well have been putting forward their best candidate to the electorate! It is reported that even Hull's Labourites ask themselves what has Prescott ever been successful at running!!?
Welcome to the graveyard for democratic dreams!!”
by Sparks2400
Monday, June 25 2012, 2:40PM
“If that's the case Bill and they both get elected in their preferred roles, then that tells me that democracy is dead!
We as the public seem to have no voice anymore.”
by Bill_Igerent
Monday, June 25 2012, 12:27PM
“@Ellie408 Agree entirely with your sentiment.
However - at whatever stage in Labour's selection/nomination proceedings in the lead up to their ballot - I suspect that the widespread perception had to be that Keith Hunter standing as an Independent was always going to have far more potential to split the Labour vote, rather than Conservative share of the vote come November 15!??
Considering that even amongst local die hard Labour party members, the vote was pretty evenly split and a relatively close shave for Prescott! 552 against 458 out of 2200 polled!?
Apart from this blatant apathy of even Labour party members. It is self evident from the online reports and vast majority of comments on their campaign -in the Scunthorpe & Grimsby Telegraphs and even the Hull Mail - that there is significant public revulsion at the idea of Prescott's reputation and suitability of becoming a credible and successful PCC for Humberside.
I am sure that rancour among ordinary voters will undoubtedly continue through the rest of the campaign; and indeed beyond if Prescott is elected. I cannot help but suspect that Labour must now be having real jitters in respect of the perceived 'electability' of Prescott!?
Thereby, aside from any obligation to Labour, particularly the local CLPs for their pre ballot nominations for his PCC candidacy. I suspect Keith Hunter has sold out to Labour by firstly lending all the kudos of his expertise to try and overcome the rancour of Prescott's dire reputation and his campaign among those ordinary voters?
And secondly, in return, to the oh so predictable likelihood of him picking up an equally generous contract and package as a deputy PCC; if and when Prescott is elected as PCC on November 15! A prospect that both he and Prescott have repeatedly refused to rule out!!”
by Ellie408
Sunday, June 24 2012, 6:34PM
“Come on Keith, apply independently and give us some hope.”
by NeilEyre
Sunday, June 24 2012, 5:21PM
“http://tinyurl.com/886wq68
I know self promotion is a bit crass but if John Prescott is going to get full page spreads every other day then i can at least get a link in!”
by PStoff
Saturday, June 23 2012, 8:34AM
“I agree with a comment below - this position should be non political. Prescott will only use this for point scoring. We need someone experienced in policing to head this.”
by disbandnlc
Saturday, June 23 2012, 3:21AM
“A persons life is written all over their face, I don't think I need say more.”
by ricardo121
Friday, June 22 2012, 7:32PM
“anybody know how the votes were split etc between prescott and hunter ?”
by johndebmax
Friday, June 22 2012, 7:09PM
“We dont even need one. Lets spend the salary on a few more bobbies, now that would be value for money, instead of making Prescott, richer than he already is.”
by HeavenlyManna
Friday, June 22 2012, 5:48PM
“It seems that the Prescott political bruiser mindset and legacy lives on!
@davidprescott has got himself into a right old legal copyright spat with someone on Twitter. Accusations of bullying flying around in tweets from several reputable quarters!”