How to re build trust in our communities

Why is it that many of us distrust governmental institutions, politicians, and the political process and yet trust commercial brands?  What is it about Amazon, Apple, Argos and others that make us hand over our money with one click without even thinking about it?  We entrust these companies with our personal and financial information and then sign over all of our rights or entitlements to it!  It's an interesting dilemma for someone like me that's seeking a role such as Police and Crime Commissioner.  These are some of the things I've been discussing today at the EU Cities event ran by Belfast City Council and facilitated by INEQE.  We could learn a lot from the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland.  What was once a desperate no hope sort of place fed by hatred and bigotry is now an environment filled with booming confidence and optimism fueled by the emergence of a new technology sector?  2000 jobs have been created in a few short years with £80 million of salaries being used to regenerate the local economy.  It's been done by the community finally coming together and backed by government investment with a close alliance to the business community.  I was in a building today near the historic Titanic slipway that routinely transacts £900 trillion dollars of the world's global capital markets!  They have re built public confidence not just politically but by investing in a sound infrastructure backed up by a long-term vision.

We must utilise these new digital technologies that we as consumers have so much confidence in and use them to communicate with the public to ensure that agencies such as the police can communicate quickly and effectively with the public it serves.  We must ensure that the public have unfettered access to PCC's to ensure that they are able to say what they believe the police should be focusing on.   We must provide the public with access to easy to use digital technologies to encourage a free flow of information between the public, the PCC's and the police. We should expect and Insist upon the highest of professional standards for all public officials including the PCC and have a zero tolerance to all forms of fraud and corruption.  The PCC should ensure that the police are truly accountable to the public via the PCC and held to account whenever appropriate.

These are the reasons why I believe the appointment of PCC's are a good thing.  To bring true accountability to policing and re build the trust of the community in the political process.