Dr Lee Rotherham, the abolitionist candidate, has revealed that he is on the reserve list for the next stage of selection. We know at least one other, Simon Fawthrop, is also on the reserve list but not which one has the first slot. The interview stage was supposed to involve "about ten" candidates but only six have gone through, the chances of the reservists being needed depend on someone pulling out to endorse a frontrunner.
One of the shortlisted candidates has told us that they see their role purely as promoting their policy ideas now that Boris Johnson is in the running, but Rotherham's candidacy has always been about the policies rather than the candidate.
Even at this stage he has today published a detailed paper on policing. A serious policy wonk himself, his five thousand words on the issue based on discussions with serving police officers are not to be sniffed at. Highlights include:
- Strict enforcement of Penalty Notices for Disorder
- Possibly shifting focus completely from soft drugs to hard drugs
- Ways of getting street policing to happen
- Allowing much more discretion over needless paperwork
- Role for grassroots police reps in mayor's activities
- Giving Brian Haw a peerage whilst restricting use of Parliament Square to standing-only protests
- Having a Washington DC style annual celebration of police bravery and commitment
Deputy Editor
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