BBC Radio Merseyside hosted an hour-long debate between the four PCC candidates. To listen to the programme, the link is here.
I thought the debate was useful and constructive, free from some of the ranting that often comes when political opponents clash. In particular this is the first time I have been in a direct discussion with the current Commissioner Jane Kennedy, although I have been in meetings with her before. We disagree about some important things and I am seeking to replace her, but I think she is the kind of politician we need more of in public life. The other two candidates also have useful things to contribute.
www.coyne4pcc.org
Disagreement on Support for Roads Policing
There is a major difference between a Green Party position on traffic enforcement and the position of my Labour, Lib Dem and Tory opponents and it was made clear in the this debate. We have seen a declining trend in the numbers of traffic police at the same time as a rising trend in killed and seriously injured road victims on Merseyside.
If elected as PCC, I will have a mandate to do something about the cuts to roads policing. There may be scope for redistributing resources to restore more effective road traffic policing, but as I have said before, if needed I would propose an increase in the policing precept on the council tax. Some limited progress is possible by educating drivers and by better engineering, but it is wishful thinking to hope for a solution that does not also involve a credible risk of punishment for drivers who break the law.
Evidence for the retreat from road traffic law enforcement is here . A committee report this month from Liverpool City Council’s highways officers is quite blunt: “As enforcement decreases, collisions increase…” and “reduced direct police enforcement (due to reductions in staffing resources) has had a significant impact.”
The national picture is similar. The loss of police capacity to contain road danger is reported in a House of Commons Transport Select Committee report in March, here.