THE UNION representing rank-and-file Wiltshire police officers said it worried the delay in re-running the police and crime commissioner elections would put vital funding decisions on hold. Wiltshire Police Federation chairman Insp Mark Andrews said the situation, caused by successful candidate Conservative Jonathon Seed being declared ineligible for the post due to an old drink driving conviction, was extremely disappointing and that he feared it would be allowed to fester . Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire, he said: “I’m worried this process could take four, five, six months until we get someone in charge who can make those long-term budgetary decisions about new police stations, investment into existing police stations, maybe additional police officers and the investment into different departments which I’ve been calling for in my mini manifesto. I just want the best for the cops so that they can do their best for the community.”
WILTSHIRE’S police and crime commissioner hit out at the watchdog – claiming its investigations run at a “glacial pace” and cause needless stress. Angus Macpherson, who leaves the post in May after a nine-year tenure, said his one wish would be for the Independent Office for Police conduct to “get its act together and deal with complaints fairly and quickly”. He claimed former Chief Constable Pat Geenty, who retired in 2015 despite the watchdog saying he had a “case to answer” for misconduct, had been treated unfairly. The IOPC hit back, calling Mr Macpherson’s comments disappointing and inaccurate. But he was backed by the chairman of Wiltshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers.