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The battlebus seats!

No, not the things the blue bottoms sat on – the places it visited during the General Election.

“Do you live in one of the 24 seats whose Tory candidates were helped to victory by the RoadTrip campaign buses?

Amber Valley, Broxtowe, Bury North, Cannock Chase, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Dudley South, Erewash, Kingston, Lincoln, Morecambe and Lunesdale, North Cornwall, Northampton North, Nuneaton, Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Pudsey, Sherwood, South Thanet, Sutton and Cheam, Thornbury and Yate, Torbay, Weaver Vale, Wells or Yeovil.

If you do, consider contacting your local police force to make a complaint about your candidate’s spending declaration – and to remind the police that they can apply to the courts for an extension to investigate the allegations.”

Michael Portillo and Alan Johnson go to pieces when asked about Tory election fraud live on air (VIDEO)

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Electoral Commission statement on application to the High Court for the Conservative and Unionist Party to disclose documents and information

“News release published: 12-05-2016

The Electoral Commission has today (12 May) announced that as part of its investigation launched on 18 February 2016 into Conservative Party campaign spending returns, it has made an application to the High Court for a document and information disclosure order. The application, which names the Conservative and Unionist Party as the Respondent, is made under paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 19B to the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000.

Why the Commission is taking this action

Using its powers under PPERA, and in line with its Enforcement Policy, the Electoral Commission may issue a statutory notice requiring any person, including a registered party, to provide us with specific documents and/or information as part of an investigation. This places the recipient under a legal obligation to provide the required material. However, if the recipient does not comply with this statutory notice, the Commission may apply to the High Court for a disclosure order which if granted would be the court compelling the Respondent to release the required documents and information to the Commission.

The Commission issued the Conservative and Unionist Party with two statutory notices requiring the provision of material relevant to its investigation. However, the Party has only provided limited disclosure of material in response to the first notice (issued on 18 February 2016) and no material in response to the second notice (issued on 23 March 2016). That follows the Commission granting extensions of time to comply.

Bob Posner, Director of Party and Election Finance & Legal Counsel at the Electoral Commission said:

“If parties under investigation do not comply with our requirements for the disclosure of relevant material in reasonable time and after sufficient opportunity to do so, the Commission can seek recourse through the courts. We are today asking the court to require the Party to fully disclose the documents and information we regard as necessary to effectively progress our investigation into the Party’s campaign spending returns.”

The Commission will make no further comment on the investigation, in line with our Enforcement Policy.”

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/electoral-commission-statement-on-application-to-the-high-court-for-the-conservative-and-unionist-party-to-disclose-documents-and-information

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Tory election expenses scandal FAQ

The Guardian’s “All you need to know” guide.

http://gu.com/p/4j6ne

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change.org petition started for Alison Hernandez to stand down

“Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, should stand down.”

https://www.change.org/p/opcc-devonandcornwall-pnn-police-uk-alison-hernandez-police-and-crime-commissioner-for-devon-and-cornwall-should-stand-down

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Do you want to ask the Police and Crime panel a question?

The Police and Crime Commissioner is responsible to the Police and Crime Panel. If you wish to ask them a wuestion, here is a web form:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/dcpcpquestions.html

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Nine police forces investigating Conservative election expenses

West Mercia is to investigate the Devon and Cornwall PCC case to keep a “cordon sanitaire” around Ms Hernandez’s conflict of interest with her own chief Constable.

“Lincolnshire becomes latest force to launch inquiry into allegations that Conservatives incorrectly categorised 2015 election costs

Nine police forces have launched inquiries into whether the Conservative party breached spending rules during the 2015 general election campaign.

Lincolnshire police became the latest force to confirm on Thursday that they were investigating the claims as the Tories handed over evidence regarding the controversy to the Electoral Commission.

The allegations regarding breaches of spending rules centre on claims that the party listed the costs of bussing activists into key marginal seats under national spending accounts, rather than as local spending.

Lincolnshire appears to be the ninth police force examining the allegations, which were first broadcast by Channel 4 News. The others are Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia, and Devon and Cornwall.

Any candidate found guilty of an election offence could face up to one year in prison and being barred from office for three years.

A statement from Lincolnshire police said: “We are aware of recent media reporting regarding allegations of irregularities in the election expenses of the Conservative party and some of their candidates in the general election 2015, and three byelections in 2014.

“We can confirm that we are carrying out general enquiries, but we will not be commenting further until they are complete.”

The Electoral Commission went to the high court on Thursday for an information disclosure order to seek the documents.

Within hours, the commission said it had received the documents from the Conservatives and was reviewing them.

Senior Tories insisted that the legal action was not necessary as they had always intended to hand the details over.

“We advised the Electoral Commission on 29 April that we would comply with their notices by 1pm today, and have done so. There was no need for them to make this application to the high court,” a spokeswoman said.

The party acknowledged that due to an “administrative error”, some accommodation costs for the activists were not properly registered, but insisted that the bus tour was part of the national campaign organised by Conservative campaign headquarters and as such, it did not have to fall within individual constituency spending limits.”

http://nr.news-republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=4&articleid=64278297

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Hernandez interview on Spotlight tonight as Police and Crime Committee gets special meetin

Hernandez interview announced this afternoon for this evening on the 6.30 pm edition on BBC 1. In the meantime, in spite of its Chair (Councillor Croad, Con) saying on television that he sees no reason for it, there WILL be an emergency meeting of the Police and Crime Panel, the local watchdog to which Hernandez is responsible (and which, presumably could suspend her?) within the next couple of weeks.

Members of the panel according to its website is below:

Yvonne Atkinson (Co-Optee (voting)
Councillor Stuart Barker (Committee Member)
Councillor Chris Batters (Vice-Chair)
Councillor Betty Boundy (Committee Member)
Councillor Geoff Brown (Committee Member)
Councillor Roger Croad (Chair)
Councillor Philippa Davey
Councillor Robert Excell (Committee Member)
Phil Martin (Committee Member)
Councillor John Mathews (Committee Member)
Councillor E W Moulson (Committee Member)
Councillor Vivien Pengelly
Councillor Mike Saltern (Committee Member)
Councillor Philip Sanders (Committee Member)
Mrs Margaret Squires (Committee Member)
Councillor Rachel Sutton (Committee Member)
Councillor A Toms (Committee Member)
Sarah Wafker (Co-Optee (voting))
Derris Watson (Committee Member)
Councillor Tom Wright (Committee Member)

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/dcpcpmembership

Time to lobby?

Here is its remit:

The Police and Crime Panel supports and challenges the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The panel has the power to request reports and call the PCC to attend its meetings.

Panels will not replace police authorities and will not have a role in scrutinising the performance of the police force (that is the role of the PCC).

The panel will:

review the police and crime plan and annual report
scrutinize (and potentially veto) the PCC’s proposed council tax precept* for policing
hold confirmation hearings for the PCC’s proposed appointment of a Chief Constable and senior support staff (the panel may veto the Chief Constable appointment)
scrutinise the actions and decisions of the Commissioner (but not the performance of the police force)
consider complaints against the PCC of a non-criminal nature
*the money collected from council tax for policing

Meetings are held in the Council House, Plymouth City Council, Armada Way, Plymouth.

DEFINITELY time to lobby!

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Chief Constable’s statement on Hernandez investigation

Just one problem: there are only days left to decide whether to extend the time limit for this investigation: how long will it take to choose and brief a new force?

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Hernandez is NOT here to support the police

Alison Hernandez said at her swearing in (reported on BBC Spotlight this evening) that she is “here to support the police”.

NO SHE IS NOT!

“The role of the PCCs is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. They are responsible for the totality of policing. PCCs aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service within their force area.”

http://www.apccs.police.uk/role-of-the-pcc/

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Watch Michael Crick of Channel 4 news ask Ms Hernandez a REALLY awkward Question!

Scroll down article for short video – he is the second questioner and also allowed to ask only two questions. Ms Hernandez’s background in PR and selling wasn’t quite enough to help her out. And as regards openness and transparency – she is mistress of avoiding answering a straight question.

This does not bode well for her, us or the Chief Constable.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/WATCH-PCC-Alison-Hernandez-faces-tough-questions/story-29253467-detail/story.html

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Who is that sitting next to Alison Fernandez at her swearing in?

None other than our own former regeneration supremo and now Exeter City Council CEO Karime Hassan, dressed in very natty official robes accentuated with gold chain!

She had two minders from Conservative Central Office with her and Spotlight was allowed to ask only two questions.

Open … transparent … yeah, right!

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Our new PCC favours podcasts and iPhone to face-to-face discussion

From an article written by Alison Hernandez in The Guardian in 2013:

“Promotion becomes a choice between your money or your life. Either you can spend huge amounts of money on old-fashioned promotion, or spend vast amounts of your time – spending evenings, weekends, and every other unsociable hour imaginable, out and about spreading your message. Finding either time or resources is a great challenge for many people coping with the combined pressures of a career, family commitments and childcare.

My aim is to use podcasting to help others to promote their ideas and projects to the local community. To do it, I have personally invested in the latest iPhone. I already use social media actively, especially as part of budget discussions, where hundreds more have been joining in the debate about how we spend our money.

Promoting civic involvement is a core activity of all councillors and we need more platforms to do this in Torbay. Podcasts will help break through the vast mess of online information in an interactive way. By engaging more people, we can create the solutions needed to overcome complex and entrenched problems.”

http://gu.com/p/3de53

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Hernandez resigned from Torbay Council Executive as she said she couldn’t do the job as a single parent and the allowance was too low

Hope she now has a partner.

“Cllr Hernandez said she offered her resignation with ‘great sadness’, but said it was ‘untenable to carry out this role effectively when one is a working parent’.

The 39-year-old, who has a five-year-old daughter, said: “The lack of flexibility, lack of decision-making ability, lack of the use of technology, low allowances and extremely limited officer support has exacerbated this.”

She said that unless the mayor changes working practices, she cannot consider being an executive lead again, but she will continue to be a ward councillor.

She said: “I support the mayoral system, but executive leads are advisors not decision-makers and nobody does anything unless the mayor says so. I recognise he’s a very busy man, but it’s Gordon Oliver who sets the standards and makes the decisions and I believe he is not driving change where it’s needed.”

… “You have to be at meetings to input your view. But meetings are usually at school pick-up time. You get £6,000 for being an executive lead and it’s not sustainable. I spend more than that on things like petrol, printing posters and leaflets for community information, and buying coffee or lunch for people I’m trying to persuade.” …

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Leading-Torbay-councillors-quit-posts/story-18471567-detail/story.html

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Police and Crime Panel Chair sees no problem for PCC to be in charge whilst under investigation

monkeys

Doesn’t see any conflict of interest. No plans to call a special meeting. All absolutely fine. Nothing to worry about, it’s only an allegation … Move on, nothing to see here … fuss over nothing …

Councillor Croad, Conservative Chair of the Panel on Spotlight this evening.

Wonder if the Chief Constable agrees?

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Our new Police and Crime Commissioner’s plans

… “I would really like to invest in the technology that our police officers need,” she said. “The systems they currently have to support them while they are out on the streets are so ineffective.

“The more police officers that can be out on the streets rather than sat in the station the better. …

… “I would also like there to be more online opportunities for people to be able to have a conversation online with a police officer, said Ms Hernandez.” …

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/New-crime-czar-Devon-Cornwall-wants-invest-police/story-29246196-detail/story.html

Oh no … Owl can see it now …

…Press 1 for burglary
…Press 2 for assault …

…. or fill in our online form that will only take you long enough to lose the will to live.

And, if our all our police officers are out on the beat, who will be doing the “Live Chat” service online?

Maybe a call centre in India!

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And yet another potential “Battle Bus” conundrum

Again, from former MP Adrian Sanders (Lib Dem) who is REALLY putting the boot in!

““A very interesting set of questions have emerged for local election candidates who stood for the Conservatives in Torbay last May.

In the Tory election expense declaration for the General Election there is an invoice for Battle bus canvass cards but the Tory Agent has split the amount that would have counted towards the winning MPs expense limit with the elected Mayor and Council campaigns.

I continue to suspect that as a loyal Conservative employee she simply followed the instructions from HQ on how to fill in the General Election expense returns.

But it has raised some questions for the 35 Conservative Council Candidates – many of them now Torbay Councillors.

If you were a Conservative Candidate last May in Torbay did the battle bus visit your ward? If the answer is no, why did you allow the Tory Agent to declare expenses on your return that should have been on Kevin Foster’s?

If the answer is yes, and were the accommodation, travel and other costs of the battle bus to be added to your declaration would you exceed the expense limit for your campaign?

I expect last year’s Conservative candidates will be wanting to check their expense returns at the earliest opportunity to see if the national party has potentially dumped on them as well as their Agent given if any allegations are proven it is the people who sign off the expenses, the Candidate and Agent, who are legally liable.”

Adrian Sanders, Facebook

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Former Lib Dem MP on new PCC Hernandez

“It’s All Gone a Bit Laurel & Hardy

What a fine mess the election of Mrs Alison Hernandez to the Devon & Cornwall Police & Crime Commissioner post has lumbered us with.

After weeks of sitting on the fence the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary announced they are going to investigate the Channel 4 allegations of criminal offences by those who signed off the Conservative’s election expenses at the 2015 General Election in the Camborne, Plymouth Devonport, North Cornwall and Torbay constituencies.

As Mrs Hernandez is one of the people who signed off the expenses the Devon & Cornwall Police are going to investigate my first reaction was should another force be called in to carry out the enquiries given Mrs Hernandez’s obvious conflict of interest.

All of the agents and candidates are innocent until proven guilty but only one is in a position of influence over the investigations and it is this conflict of interest that is in question here.

This whole embarrassing and potentially expensive circumstance raises several questions.

While D & C have confirmed they are investigating they have not, unlike other forces with seats to investigate, said they will apply for an extension of time. Why not?

Obviously Mrs Hernandez shouldn’t be involved in any decision on whether to apply for an extension of time to investigate these matters, and leaving it up to people she can hire and fire is no different.

If another force were brought in D & C would have to meet the costs of their investigations. If so Mrs Hernandez would control the budget. If the other force requests additional resource who will approve or reject the ask?

The more one considers this the more one has to conclude that the political independence of the Devon & Cornwall force has been compromised by this result and not only will she have to stand aside while the investigations take place, but another force ought to take over the investigations and apply for an extension of time.”

Adrain Sanders, Facebook

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Hernandez is new PCC – lucky Ilfracombe!

“The results are in and we can now announce the winner of Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Conservative Alison Hernandez won with votes equal to 24% of the votes cast. Voter turnout this year was low, 23%, but higher than in the previous election in 2012 when only 15% of people voted.

Speaking before the election MS Hernandez said she wants ” neglected” places like Ilfracombe to benefit more from police funding as she believes there has been too much of a focus on the “triangle” of Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth.”

http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Devon-s-new-Police-Crime-Commissioner/story-29239471-detail/story.html

And now we have the interesting case of a PCC being investigated for election fraud by her Chief Constable – who she can sack but who cannot sack her!

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Vote, vote, vote – ten reasons to vote even if you disagree with having a Police and Crime Commissioner

Why?

1. At least you will get a chance to vote for the person you dislike least and an opportunity to try to stop the one you dislike most.

2. SOMEONE will get the job whether you agree with it or not, so you want to try to make sure that person is fit for it.

3. One candidate wants to abolish the job while drawing a salary for it (UKIP).

4. One may be in the untenable position of being investigated by the police officer she can fire (Conservative).

5. If you believe the job should be non-political your vote could ensure that happens. That rules out the Labour and Lib Dem candidates.

7. This leaves only two candidates who are independent.

8. Only one (Robert Spencer) has the best qualification for the job.

9. All votes will matter in this contest, one vote may win it.

10. Because having a vote is a precious thing that must be preserved – people fought and died so that we could have it.

OWL IS VOTING FOR BOB SPENCER! INDEPENDENT

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Finally, a regional paper reports on PCC scandal.

Owl really should not have beaten them to it!

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Police-asked-probe-Tory-police-candidates-role/story-29227147-detail/story.html