Suleman bids for police job
A businessman and community leader is to stand for elected police commissioner as an independent.
Suleman Nagdi, who lives in Leicester, said he believed party politics should be kept out of the £75,000-a-year role.
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Mr Nagdi, who is active in a number of community groups, including Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, said he would "put the feelings of victims of crime and law-abiding citizens first" if he was elected in November.
He said: "Over the past 25 years, I have been actively engaged in providing a critical voice to the police to ensure that members of the public receive the highest standards of service.
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"In order to create stronger, safer and integrated communities, we need to support our police – not to play party politics with them.
"That is why I am standing as an independent candidate. The person who is elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) should be accountable to the people and not to political parties.
"I believe my experiences in business and in the community will stand me in good stead for this vital role."
Labour and Conservative candidates – city councillor Sarah Russell and retired Air Chief Marshall Sir Clive Loader – this week both stressed they would not make decisions based on party affiliations.
The PCCs will replace police authorities, which have traditionally set police budgets, appointed senior officers and scrutinised force performance.
The Home Office believes commissioners will be more accountable to the public because they are elected, whereas police authority members include appointed councillors, magistrates and independents.
Mr Nagdi is the second person to tell the Mercury of their intention to stand as an independent in November's election.
However, the first, city magistrate and businessman Rick Moore withdrew from the contest last month.
Mr Moore said he believed an independent could not win the contest because of the financial resources available to the main political parties.
He said: "I worked out that to send a single letter to every home in the county would cost about £80,000 – an independent simply cannot compete with mainstream parties."
The deadline for nominations is mid-October. Each candidate must provide a £5,000 deposit and a document signed by 100 residents.
A national think tank this week suggested politicians would not attract widespread support among voters.
A YouGov poll for Policy Exchange found 59 per cent of voters said former police officers were their preferred candidates.
Others said they would back "ordinary people with an interest in policing issues" or those from a military background.
Only 13 per cent backed candidates from the business world, while six per cent said they would choose a politician.
A website about the November 15 election is at:
www.leics-pcc.org
Comments
by Albert_Hall
Sunday, June 24 2012, 8:46PM
“It seems that some readers are expecting the Police and Crime Commissioner to be a "Police Commissioner" as portrayed in Amercan TV programs and films. PCCs will have no operational role in policing. They will not be the people hogging the limelight when a major crime is committed much less telling the detectives what to do.”
by bapcav
Sunday, June 24 2012, 7:30PM
“Anyone who thinks a retired police officer is the best candidates is deranged.
We need INDEPENDENT people who will not automaically mind the back of any police officer who has made a mistake or done something worse.
The police force is a "fraternity" and serving or retired, they stick together. And, by doing so, they turn error into corruption.
I speak from experience in Northamptonshire, where an inspector, the Chief Constable and the Chair of the police authority all backed a constable who had done wrong . I had to take my case to the European Commission and the IPCC to get justice, with the heaviest reprimand going to the Chair of the Police Authority, who was just there to back the force, right or wrong.”
by le27ld
Sunday, June 24 2012, 6:14PM
“someone complain about the posting i made about a Muslim Councillor giving a reference for a man convicted of been a Pedo? I am not saying Suieman would do that, what I was pointing out is that one communities definition of an upright person, could be different to that of the law of that land, as was demonstrated in the case i quoted”
by Carlo5
Sunday, June 24 2012, 6:07PM
“I'm with you CGLee. Also how sickening is the fact that if there were any suitable independants they would have no chance unless they were wealthy? How unfare.”
by horsejockey
Sunday, June 24 2012, 11:56AM
“Aint sure which one to vote for yet.Certainly not petes nodding donkey.As seen on tv this morning,he wants control of the Police in Leicestershire.”
by FOXFAN99
Sunday, June 24 2012, 9:54AM
“Fair enough this man wishes to stand a police commissioner as an independent, but shouldnt the job be done by someone who has a thorough knowledge of how the police works? An ex Chief Constable perhaps.
Sorry I forgot, these days top managers of companies, leaders of institutions etc are put into these roles despite having no experience of the job in hand. I would imagine its great having someone who has been employed for 5 mins telling you how to do your job, a job you know like the back of your hand, having done it for many years. Seems to be the way things are going.
There are certain companies out there who would rather take inexperienced staff on and spend money training them up than take on people who have many years experience in a role. This has happened to me so I know.”
by Graham_LE8
Sunday, June 24 2012, 9:11AM
“Quote: "Suleman Nagdi, who lives in Leicester, said he believed party politics should be kept out of the £75,000-a-year role".
I agree, and the best way to do that is to drop the salary to parity with that of an ordinary Bobby - make it less attractive to the ambitious 'career politicians' with an agenda, and then see who of the confirmed applicants still feel their vocation lies with public service in this role...”
by CGLee
Sunday, June 24 2012, 8:52AM
“I have nothing against any of the candidates, except to say that none of them is appropriate to be supervising the Chief Constable in his running of the Leicestershire police force. None of them has a police background and consequently none of them has a knowlege of criminal law and police procedure. The CC and his team of chief officers are going to be spending a lot of their valuable time explaining basics to whoever is elected.
The whole idea is uttely ridiculous and will inevitably lead to a politicising of our police forces. There is nothing wrong with the police authorities which are constructed of people from vairous backgrounds and with no single political agenda.
Watch this space.”
by horsejockey
Saturday, June 23 2012, 6:58PM
“Bring it on Ausonia.Quids in the pockets.Sou£bys puppets.We were conned by back pocket c£ounci£ors and Liecester C£ounci£.A free vote is /was needed.I still cannot find anyone who went to a voting booth,with an electoral ticket,and voted for saint pete.Someone tell me they did ,and where and when .PLEASE.”
by Ausonia
Saturday, June 23 2012, 3:59PM
“I don't remember being asked if I wanted an elected Police Commissioner. But then I wasn't asked if I wanted an elected mayor. I would have thought the result of that last election would have taught the public enough. Soulsby is not the democratic leader of Leicester and I'm sure the majority of the electorate would like someone who knows something about policing to run the force. I can't wait for Doc Holliday to appear to help out our new Sheriff. Wake up Leicester and let us get rid of these tacky politicians.”