Police commissioner role 'a Tory retirement home'

Pictured left to right: Liberal Democrat Paul Duffy, Labour's Dan Price and John Dywer of the Conservatives

The office of Police and Crime Commissioner has been lambasted as a "Conservative retirement home for ex-chief constables" by the Liberal Democrat candidate for the role in Cheshire.

Paul Duffy told a Politics North West debate he wanted to "take the politics out of the police" and how his party wants to abolish the position.

John Dwyer, a Conservative who elected to the position in 2021, disagreed with Mr Duffy’s position and said "retirement was not beckoning" for him.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Dan Price said there had always been "a degree of elected representation", highlighting the former police authority board before the PCC role was created.

The candidates were speaking at a BBC debate filmed at the Museum of Policing in Cheshire.

It also included discussions about shoplifting, police officer numbers and violence against women and girls.

Mr Dwyer has previously been criticised for comments he made about schoolgirls "wearing very short skirts".

The comments were brought up by Mr Duffy.

Mr Dwyer said it was "an observational comment" and "if anybody off the back of that suggests I’m misogynistic, they’re totally wrong".

When asked if the comment was victim-blaming, Mr Dwyer said it "certainly wasn’t".

"I don’t know why that was levelled at me," he said.

"I was not blaming victims at all, I was making an observational comment, but I've drawn a line under it.

"On the night I said it I apologised and afterwards I've apologised, drawn a line under it and moved on."

Mr Duffy said he "accepted" Mr Dwyer had apologised but said it was a "serious job and a serious position".

"You were an assistant chief constable with that mindset, you’re currently the PCC with that mindset and leadership is all about creating a culture," he said.

Mr Duffy, who said he is an ambassador for a charity which encourages men and boys to end violence against women, said the comments were "unacceptable".

"You might have apologised for saying it, but for me that’s just not good enough," he said.

In response to Mr Dwyer’s comments, Mr Price said he "wouldn't even think it, so never mind saying it".

"I accept that John’s apologised but that doesn't take away the damage that does," he said.

“Trust in policing is at record lows and that means our standards have to be at absolute highs, so I think it was inappropriate to say the least".

Mr Dwyer added he said it "doesn't show a mindset at all".

He also pointed out work he had done on issues included honour-based crime and FGM.

"My track record absolutely supports the fact that I'm supportive of females in our community to be protected," he said.

The debate will be shown on BBC One at 10:00 BST on Sunday 14 April, and on BBC iPlayer.