I implore you to use your vote wisely

These elections are being described as one of the biggest changes in British policing and yet many still seem unaware of their rapid approach.

It had been my intention to stand as an independent candidate in these elections, on a platform of keeping party politics out of policing but, after some meaningful discussions with a number of like-minded people I felt that, as a former police officer, my impartiality in such an important role could be called into question. I decided not to continue with my campaign but to wholeheartedly support the only Warwickshire candidate who is independent of any political party, Ron Ball.

I have continued to follow the campaigns, both locally and nationally and nothing has yet convinced me to change my view that we should strive to keep party politics out of policing.

Despite this having been a flagship policy of the present Government, there appears to have been little encouragement given to attract suitable candidates to these roles and apart from independents, such as Ron, we are largely left to choose from a motley assembly of card-carrying political has-beens and also-rans, each apparently trying to outdo each other in showing themselves to be uninspiringly committed to their particular party line.

Worryingly in Warwickshire, the two party political candidates seem intent on picking a fight with the Chief Constable over issues that fall outside the remit of an elected PCC.

There has also been some misinformation spread, presumably through a lack of research, concerning the level of resourcing and effectiveness of Warwickshire Police.

This is disingenuous to the men and women who serve our community and who have brought about a fall in crime in our county.

As someone who is proud to have been a police officer for 30 years I would implore all your readers to get out on November 15 and vote for their first PCC. It is my firmly held opinion that this role is too important to be left to someone who is part of the political class and from conversations I have had, many of you agree with me. - Andrew Moss, Southam.