There are quite a few people who are asking me about the actual job of a Police and Crime Commissioner. Please find below a handy graphic put out by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. It is a complex job and certain skills are required for it to be done successfully. In any other area if you were asked to deliver a large mission with an organisation of £159m of which you have operational responsibility for £2.2m - you would be subject to the most rigorous set of interviews, assessment centres etc with experts in the area. This is an election so for this theoretically you could just polish a cv - make a lot of noise and hope people elect you.
I cannot answer for other candidates but one reason I am standing for the Conservatives is the rigour of the assessment process - to even get here on the starting blocks - I have had to have at least 20 interviews to gain support to be put forward to Central Office. Then a half day assessment consisting of panel interviews with senior PCCs and a written exam - if you pass that you have to come back and then campaign competitively across Dorset against other candidates to finally have a competitive hustings in front of 80-100 people. This means I know a large number of people have assessed my competency even before I present myself to you the electorate.
So here are a set of questions to measure the candidates assuming it was just that - a board interview and you are on that board:-
1/ How have you prepared for the role?
2/ How are you sure you understand the needs and priorities of the people of Dorset - what communication have you done?
3/ Do you have the connections to leverage change for Dorset?
4/ What is the largest budget you have had operational control of and what experience of resource allocation do you have?
5/ What experience do you have in a governance role?
6/ How have you made sure you understand Dorset police and how can we be sure you will be on the side of the people ie independent of them?
7/ This role is about integrity - is there anything in your past which would give us cause for concern?
8/Can you demonstrate how you bring disparate groups together?
9/Can you demonstrate that you have successfully enacted a new vision and changed a strategic direction?
10/ Show how you have held a senior executive accountable for their organisation's delivery?
I suggest that those 10 questions are about can you do the job and should be asked to every candidate - I shall be answering them before the election at hustings and also on this Facebook page. This job is too important and your needs as the people of Dorset deserve a PCC that is fit for purpose