The election of police and crime commissioners has become a totemic policy for a government claiming to be determined to devolve power down to local communities – so why are so few people interested? One predicted estimate of turnout in the November elections is as low as 18.5%, raising questions of legitimacy. So is electing police strategists a good idea in practice?
On the panel this week to discuss all things police and crime: Tim Montgomerie, editor of Conservative Home; Alan Travis, Guardian home affairs editor; and Sam Chapman, editor of the Top of the Cops blog.
We also hear from Jon Collins of the Police Foundation thinktank, and Katie Ghosh of the Electoral Reform Society. Both are concerned about the wisdom of holding important elections in the winter gloom of November.
Also this week: chief political correspondent Nicholas Watt previews the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle. He tells us who is expected to be coming and going – and who is going nowhere.
Leave your own cabinet reshuffle predictions below.
