He's hardly independent (From South Wales Argus)

If you had ever met the man you would know he is def not someone who scratches the backs of others. You dont get anywhere being just a mate of his.

I love anecdotal rubbish spouted from those who cannot evidence what they are preaching

You would rather have a Political lackey doing the Governments bidding, would you? No thought for the Public just making coppers redundant because Tory/ Labour Government want to make cuts from London.

Flynn has a case of sour grapes

pinpong Absolutely right. Flynn and his party hacks thought they had this election "in the bag" and were disappointed that they lost out.
The very fact that the new man is a former officer can be viewed as too cosy, or part of the police establishment, but who wants political incumbents in this office?
It would be like voting for Labour or Tory (or independent - they're political too) all over again and the public has decided, with the large number of spoiled ballots, that it's had enough and they voted with their feet.
These weren't the usual, couldn't care less brigade, these were educated and thoughtful individuals who recognised a costly sham when they saw one.
One can imagine a Labour placeman taking on the chief constable over some issue of policing, or indeed dismissing her. Never going to happen, that's why politics must stay out of policing. The police committees worked well enough - or they did in Gwent, I can't speak for elsewhere.

The whole election of PCC has back fired on the Tories. They expected to win all or most of the English PCCs but a low turnout proved to be thier downfall. I voted because I see it as a duty after the efforts over the years to. Get everyone a vote so I vote in every election. There was no need to change the system, it worked well the way it was. The public could raise issues with the governing body in exactly the same way as they will in future, the difference being they now contact an individual rather than a group of people. I fear the whole thing is doomed to be an irrelevant piece of electoral trickery.

Electoral trickery. Absolutely right.
I've voted in all elections too because that's the way my family brought me up. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote and that's what I do. However, when the thing is a sham, as this was, then one had the choice of voting for political parties which one didn't want - or "independents", some of whom are not worthy of the name.
Also, can anyone see a Tory or a Labour politician seriously challenging the police?
I can't. Both Tory and Labour are pro-authoritarian and believe the police act in our best interests at all times. I think recent history tells us that they rarely do.
The police no longer work to "maintain the Queen's peace". They more properly represent the Establishment in all its crazy efforts at controlling the population.
If you don't accept that view, try demonstrating (peacefully) without their say-so, or try challenging them when they treat people roughly on the street. There are many many good police officers, but this farce of a post won't improve matters where they need to be improved.
Waste of time and waste of money. but nice work if you can get it!

Anything Paul Flynn says I would 'take with a pinch of salt'.
I expect that he would have preferred somebody much more left wing.

alongfortheride wrote:
If you had ever met the man you would know he is def not someone who scratches the backs of others. You dont get anywhere being just a mate of his.

I love anecdotal rubbish spouted from those who cannot evidence what they are preaching

I can tell you that the whole campaign about electing commissioners, they refused to offer language support or inform those not au fait with English what the vote was about,no wonder one booth here had no people voting at all. Deaf people who asked for communication help so they could understand what it was all about were refused, some democracy, how are they supposed to even COMPLAIN too these commissioners about anything,they said translator costs were too high so scrapped them. Then again Paul Flynn posts on his blog videos with no access for deaf or others either, pots, kettles and plain old discrimination springs to mind.

Something is seriously broken here. Police commissioner was foist upon us at $75m (can't find the pound sign) of the tax payers money, nobody wanted it and felt dumbfounded that massive amount of their 'own' money was insufficient funds to tell us about who we are being forced to hire for the worthless and phantasmagorical job. Then we were told that it was 'our' responsibility to go find out. I don't know about Paul Flynn's sour grapes (I like his beard) but it is hardly surprising that no one turned out to vote. I won't swear on here, but this is what curse words are for. What a effing cheek! Now we sit around squabbling about how people should use their 'democratic' vote and whether or not a police commissioner can be manipulated by his own conscience or the will of local politics in business or even if 'internal' enquiries have just changed clothes. We've had our ears nibbled as a distraction while the government shafts us yet again in times of austerity and joblessness. This confidence trick is old and worn, but we go on accepting it to the point where we deserve things like bedroom tax, unhealthy food and cigarette tax. Everything is political, everyone's actions and decisions are colored by bias (this rant included) everything is has a price too. We can't help it, this is reality and smart people use this truth productivley. I will vote next time, but it will only be to get a person in that is more likely to tell dog crap nazis and the like to get a grip when they demand hard legislation for pansy little foo foo problems. I don't think for a second that police commissioner is doing anything other than towing the line. He could be fired and replaced too if there should ever be a need for scapegoating. It would be comical if it wasn't true, how often this year when hearing the latest legislation did you go; 'hang on, this doesn't make sense, who asked for this, no me' or 'why am I just hearing this, I'm paying for what?' Well anyway that's my rant, I apologise in advance for the wall of text and any mistakes (I am hungover and using a playtation controller to write this. On a brighter note, kittens are still lovely, and odering food online is awesome. Toodles :-D

Even though I disagreed with the whole police commisioner thing from the start, now that it has happened I cannot see any alternative to an ex policeman in the seat. It comes down to a matter of understanding and experience of the due processes within that area of public spending. Naturally you will have people with a medical background in the higher eschelons of NHS policy and Sebastian Coe running the Olympics, so it therefore makes sense (to me at least) to have an ex-policeman running policing. Yes, I also agree Paul Flynn is an idiot.