Whether or not I appointed the right candidate, only time will tell, and the Surrey public will be the ultimate judge.
It would enhance democracy and local accountability, be better value for money for the taxpayer, and be more effective in reducing crime.
Catchy slogans are no substitute for a clear focus on the basics: more officers, proper investigations, and higher solve rates.
Demands from other parts of the public sector are a huge burden. Forces are always there to help in times of need, but they are not a substitute for the NHS, ambulance services, or mental health practitioners. Maybe a directly elected health commissioner might help?
With households feeling the squeeze, have a duty to be smart and imaginative in making policing budgets stretch as far as possible.
Police effectiveness must be boosted by a strategic shift to prevention. 20,000 extra cops has to mean one million fewer crimes, not 200,000 more people in front of the courts.
Often victims attend court with an expectation that their case will be heard, only to be informed that it has been adjourned.
One force can complete vetting of officers in two months, while another can take up to eight months. In Bedfordshire, we are part of a closer Tri-Force collaboration with Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
An evidence-based overhaul of the classification system would be a worthwhile proposal, but this proposed crackdown would make a joke of it.
As this marvellous city prepares for Diwali, I trust leaders and communities will come together to extinguish the hostility and tension which have darkened the last few weeks.
We should abolish a quango that provides no discernible benefit and that no-one would miss were it to disappear tomorrow.
The party that has always been seen as the most effective on law and order has to stay that way.
For too long carrying a knife has been seen as “low level” crime. No longer. But we must also help children who are being exploited by the real criminals.
Forces need to strike the right balance between being visible and effective, but not heavy-handed.
Insisting on degrees is an example of pointless red tape, and I want to get rid of all such bureaucratic burdens. Sir Stephen House’s Operational Productivity Review is designed to do just that.