ONE of the few reasons given by the government for the hugely unpopular introduction of police and crime commissioners was that having an elected official in charge of local forces would increase accountability.

Since last month’s elections – in which next to nobody bothered to vote – 18 of the country’s 41 PCCs have appointed friends, former colleagues or contacts as their deputies on annual salaries of £50,000 and above.

Gwent’s PCC, Ian Johnston, is one of the 18.

He intends to appoint a former colleague – someone he has known for 30 years – as his deputy.

There is no selection procedure, no interviews, and the panels set up to scrutinise decisions made by PCCs have no power of veto.

So that whole accountability thing is going pretty well.

In making these decisions the PCCs have done nothing wrong.

Giving an old mate a job paid for with public money is within the rules.

The rules, therefore, are absolutely ridiculous.

Paul Harris, and others around the country who have been appointed as deputy PCCs, may well be the right candidates for the job.

Equally, there may well be many other people out there who are far better qualified for the roles.

But without a proper recruitment and selection policy there is no way of knowing.

The PCCs have won fair and open elections to gain their positions.

The turnout may have been tiny but they are none the less elected officials.

Their deputies, however, have not been elected.

Nor have they been selected by anyone other than their new bosses.

It is a worrying state of affairs and a poor use of public funds.

It cannot be right that anyone is parachuted into a job paid for by the public with no reference to the public.

And it cannot be right that the electorate is not told before voting who candidates are planning to appoint as deputies and how they intend to make such appointments.

It is, in the end, all about accountability.

County up where they belong

WHAT a superb performance by Newport County AFC at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night.

To beat promotion favourites Luton Town 5-2 sends a message to the rest of the Conference Premier that County’s top-of-the-table position is no fluke.

County’s fans and Luton’s travelling support will know they saw high-quality football from the home side.

A few more supporters through the turnstiles and a bit of wheeling and dealing from manager Justin Edinburgh during the January transfer window might just seal the deal for County this season.

I’ve been saying for many weeks that this season is County’s best chance of a return to the promised land of the Football League.

Keep the faith. It’s happening.

● I am away on leave next week. The next Editor’s Chair column will publish on December 27.

So today is the perfect opportunity for me to wish all our readers a happy and peaceful Christmas. Enjoy it.