Alan Charles

Alan Charles was the Labour Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 to 2016. He was the first person to hold the post, having been elected on 15 November 2012.[1] In July 2015, Charles announced that he would not be seeking re-election to the position because he "wanted to spend more time with his family".[2]

Alan Charles
Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner
In office
15 November 2012 – 7 May 2016
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byHardyal Dhindsa
Personal details
Born (1950-01-20) 20 January 1950
Hayes, Middlesex, England
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)Diane Charles
Children2
ProfessionElectrician, Politician

Early life

Charles was born on 20 January 1950 in Hayes, Middlesex. He attended Southall Grammar School which he left in 1966 before going on to Uxbridge College where he trained to become an electrician. He completed his training in 1970.

Career

Charles served his apprenticeship as an electrician at a London mental hospital, before starting a workers' co-operative in the energy management industry. In 1993, he left this position in order to serve as Derbyshire County Councillor for Killamarsh. In 1999, he was appointed as Chair of the Education Committee, a position which he held until 2009.[3] He was then appointed to the Derbyshire Police Authority and became Vice-Chair.

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner

In 2012, Charles stood in the elections for Police and Crime Commissioner, which replaced the Police Authority.

He took a position against "G4S-type privatisation" of police support services during the campaign, wearing a wristband with the words "Keep Policing Public". He promised to "protect vulnerable people" and victims of crime, focussing on domestic abuse. He also pledged to fight against cuts to the Derbyshire policing budget beyond a pre-announced 20%. Other pledges included improving road safety, protecting community policing and tackling cruelty to animals.[1][4]

Charles' candidacy for the Labour Party was endorsed by former Home Secretary David Blunkett.[5]

Previous criminal conviction

In August 2012, Charles was told that a juvenile offence committed almost 50 years ago would bar him from standing as a PCC. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge for stealing a purse from a handbag when he was 14 years old.[6] Hardyal Dhindsa, a Derby City Councillor, was instead chosen as the new Labour party candidate. However, after further legal advice, Charles was reinstated in time for the election.[7]

Election

In the election, Charles stood as Labour party candidate against Simon Spencer (Conservative), David Gale (UKIP) and Rod Hutton (Independent). Charles won by a total of 57,248 votes to Spencer's total of 36,469. The turnout was 112,908, 14.4% of the Derbyshire electorate. The first preference votes did not win Charles an overall majority, but he was appointed after votes for Gale and Hutton were eliminated.[1]

Results
Candidate NamePartyFirst Preference VotesFirst Preference %Second Preference VotesTotal VotesTotal %
Alan CharlesLabour50,02844.3%7,22057,24861.1%
Simon SpencerConservative27,69024.5%8,77936,46938.9%
David GaleUKIP18,09716.0%N/A18,097N/A
Rod HuttonIndependent17,09315.1%N/A17,093N/A

Deputy PCC

In a controversial move on 30 November 2012, Charles announced he would appoint a deputy on a salary of £56,000 per annum. This move was criticised by many, who saw it as a waste of taxpayers' money, particularly since Charles and the Labour party was opposed to the concept of PCCs in the first place.[8]

Personal life

Charles moved to Killamarsh, Derbyshire in 1973 where he has lived since. He is married to Diane, with whom he has two children, Katy and Sarah, and three grandchildren.[3]

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References
  1. "Derbyshire PCC elections: Labour's Alan Charles wins". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  2. "Derbyshire PCC not standing for re-election". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. "About Your Commissioner". PCC for Derbyshire. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  4. "Choose My PCC - Alan Charles". Archived from the original on 20 November 2012.
  5. "Blunkett to attend manifesto launch". 12 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012.
  6. "Derbyshire police commissioner hopeful Alan Charles admits stealing purse 47 years ago".
  7. "BBC News - Labour re-instates Police Commissioner candidate". 15 August 2012.
  8. "Elected police commissioner to hire £56,000-a-year deputy".
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