By Simon Darby - Paul Richards, an adviser to the last Labour government on 'community relations' has expressed fear that the British National Party might get their candidate elected to the newly-created police commissioner job in Sussex. This has highlighted the fact that Police Commissioner elections are set to become a significant feature in the British electoral cycle.

Mr Richards, who is standing himself, issued a press statement in which he said: "the British National Party might sneak in through the back door".

He highlighted the call from British National Party media spokesman Simon Darby to stand candidates, and the recent upsurge of British National Party activities in Sussex.

British National Party leader Nick Griffin MEP has also commented on the potential for party candidates standing on a strong law and order ticket: "We are being urged to fight these elections. People are telling us that they want strong police commissioners who will protect citizens and make life hell for anti-social elements. If elected we will ensure that those who don't reform and mend their ways are firmly dealt with. It is time that the victims of crime are given greater consideration than the criminals. One group of people need to be frightened in British society, and British National Party police commissioners will make sure that it’s the criminals who live in fear, not their innocent victims

"The British National Party is confident that electors will appreciate the opportunity to exercise their democratic choice and to make their selection according to the programmes put forward by the various candidates. This is a great opportunity for members of the public to be able to express their views on policing and if they are unhappy to register the most effective protest possible.”

Each candidate requires 100 signatures, and a deposit of £5,000 to stand for the new posts, which replace the now-defunct police authorities.

The police commissioners will have wide-ranging powers, including setting budgets, representing the public to the police, and hiring and firing chief constables.

The election in Sussex is on Thursday 15th November 2012, and a growing number of other police commissioner elections are being announced for the same day.

Nick Griffin, MEP for the North West, urged voters to think about the recent riots in London and other cities across the country. "The pictures broadcast around the world of rows of police officers standing and watching the looting, violence and destruction, without taking any action, is all the evidence the British Public needs to elect a new breed of police commissioners and the British National Party candidates in these elections will offer voters a very desirable alternative to today’s Politically Correct ´ PCs ´."

Below we reproduce the original press release from Paul Richards:

NEWS RELEASE - Monday 13 February 2012

[Contact: Paul Richards 07973 *** 285]

Police Commissioner Hopeful warns of Threat from the BNP in Sussex

The British National Party (BNP) is planning to stand a candidate in Sussex for the newly-created police commissioner job. If the BNP candidate was elected, it would be a disaster for community relations, and risk serious public disorder throughout Sussex, says one of the leading candidates for the post.

Paul Richards, who is seeking the Labour nomination to be a police commissioner candidate in Sussex, is warning this week that unless people in East and West Sussex turn out to vote, the BNP might sneak in through the back door.

Mr Richards, an adviser to the last Labour government on community relations and counter-terrorism, has conducted an analysis of BNP websites in Sussex.

Mr Richards’ analysis shows that:

•This week, the BNP deputy leader Simon Darby made a call for BNP candidates to step forward to stand in Sussex for police commissioner

• BNP ‘table tops’ (ie provocative street stalls) are planned in Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Lancing and Emsworth, according to BNP organisers

•60,000 leaflets have been distributed throughout Sussex, including in East Preston, Angmering, Ruslington, Ferring, Lancing and Barnham

•The BNP is seeking to build on the success of BNP parish councillor John Robinson, a councillor in Barnham parish council, in standing more candidates for town and parish councils

•The BNP south east headquarters in Hastings is gearing up for the Sussex police elections in November

Paul Richards, Labour’s hopeful, said: ‘It is now clear that the BNP, which does so much damage in our communities, is fundraising and organising to stand a candidate for police commissioner in Sussex.

‘As a Labour Party candidate, I will stand against the BNP, expose their falsehoods, and argue for fairness and tolerance. But it will be down to the voters to turn out on election day to stop the BNP being elected.

‘A low turnout might favour the extremists, and that would be a disaster. If the BNP won, they would get £80,000 salary, plus £100,000-plus to appoint staff.’

Each candidate requires 100 signatures, and a deposit of £5,000 to stand for the new posts, which replace the now-defunct police authorities.

The police commissioners will have wide-ranging powers, including setting budgets, representing the public to the police, and hiring and firing the chief constable for Sussex.
The election is on Thursday 15th November 2012.

Ends

More: Paul Richards 07973 *** 285

Notes to editors:

Paul Richards is a Labour campaigner, author and columnist. He worked for the last Labour government as a special adviser to Cabinet ministers. He was Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Lewes in 2001. He lives in Eastbourne, with his wife and two children.