Appointment not cronyism says new PCC

Mr Stansfeld confirmed that he had appointed David Carroll, who served alongside him on the former police authority, as his unelected deputy.
However, he said that his huge workload necessitated the parttime post, which carries a salary of £35,000 a year.
Meanwhile, Mr Stansfeld has resigned as an executive member of West Berkshire Council, but he will continue to serve Kintbury ward, where he lives.
The new PCCs have been accused in some national newspapers of wasting public money and appointing friends to posts.
Newbury Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie said: “The PCCs are already costing the taxpayer the equivalent of 3,000 police officers and now we find out that these newly-elected, overpaid bureaucrats are going to be employing their mates on lucrative, highly paid salaries.
“This is an appalling waste of public money, and this latest development shows that this additional layer of red tape and pen pushing is just a job for the boys.”
However, Mr Stansfeld, who earns £80,000 a year in the top post, responsed: “By law you’re allowed to appoint a deputy. Thames Valley is the biggest non-metropolitan authority in the country.
“One person alone can’t cover 21 constituencies, 18 councils, about 180 neighbourhood action groups and 18 safer community partnerships in an area that takes getting on for three hours to drive across.”
Although he acknowledged that Mr Carroll was a fellow Conservative from Buckinghamshire County Council, he said: “He is an acquaintance of mine, not an old friend. And overall I will have nine staff and two part-timers – less than the police authority had.”
Mr Stansfeld said that he might have to take on an additional person to deal with his huge mailbag since taking office.
Typical concerns, he said, were household burglary, the late-night economy, antisocial behaviour and rural crime in isolated communities.
Mr Stansfeld said that many offences were committed as a result of alcohol and drug abuse and that tackling these issues should be priorities.
He added: “One of the most important things is to get all the safer community partnerships working together. Reducing crime is not just a matter for the police but also for councils, schools, the criminal justice system and the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Mr Stansfeld also said he would look at the controversial issues of giving cautions for serious offences – a concern previously raised by Newbury MP Richard Benyon.