Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Former police chief is in running for new role
Monday 6th February 2012, 6:58PM GMT.
Des Parkinson
A retired chief superintendent from Shropshire has entered the race to become the region’s first elected police commissioner.
Des Parkinson, 64, the former national secretary of the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales, wants to stand for the job as a Conservative candidate.The £85,000 a year top job of Police and Crime Commissioner is seen as an important way of reconnecting the police with the public and will cover the entire West Mercia region.
Mr Parkinson, from Priorslee in Telford, is the first to officially declare that he will run for election later this year.
The top ex-cop had a glittering 29-year-career with Dyfed-Powys Police.
Through his work he was responsible for the creation of the Sex Offenders Register and he also championed a successful campaign to ban handguns following the Dunblane tragedy in 1996.
And Mr Parkinson hit the headlines recently when it was revealed his fight to overturn the double jeopardy law had enabled the convictions of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Mr Parkinson said: “This is a very important role. Whoever gets this job is going to be the interface between the police and the public.
“It’s going to be up to them to find out what the electorate want from their police force and to implement the policies that will enable these practices to happen.
“Because of my experience and my strong personality I think I would be a good candidate. I was one of the people who pushed Michael Howard to introduce a paedophile register. The government had been dead against it but they eventually agreed.
Mr Parkinson pledged to increase the police presence across West Mercia, if elected. He said: “I want a visible police presence that quickly deals with crime.”
Sponsored Links
Most Commented
- Leader: Hospital parking suggestion simply nonsense
- Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Leader: Crimewave goes up with the mercury
- MP Owen Paterson opposed to same-sex marriages
- Letter: Who will foot public sector bill?
- Parking zones fear for Shropshire hospital workers
- Hospital 18-week waiting list down to 800
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
