New candidate joins race for county's first police commissioner

“His speech posted by UKIP in March this year on Youtube has the description "UKIP Derby member David Gale is one of the first candidates for one of the new Police Commissioner roles"
http://tinyurl.com/cwzhpyg
so he has had every intention to stand since then. The DET piece a couple of weeks back about him "weighing up whether to stand or not" was clearly a media-hype exercise.

He also wrote a worrying "soapbox" article on the DET website in January 2012
http://tinyurl.com/cpn64ro
where he explicityly states that he thinks the role SHOULD be political. He says: " Any decision on the strategy of policing is ultimately a political decision about the priorities of the people"

Here he is basically saying that if the people of Derby actively vote for a UKIP candidate as Police Commissioner then they are asking the Police to be run under the umbrella manifesto of the UKIP party. That is deeply deeply worrying.

Applying a so-called "zero-tolerance" attitude to the multi-cultural areas of our city would soon stoke racial tension - and that would in fact be a perfect result for UKIP and their xenophobic policies. Hence the reason the role should not be political or used as a political tool.

In the Youtube video of David Gale's speech he talks about how he resigned from the force after two years because he disagreed with the things he was asked to do by his seniors.

A previous commenter who worked with him at the time said he was actually required to resign because 'he was unlikely to become an efficient police constable.'

That's two people's perspectives of the same event – but it does paint him as someone who refuses to listen or follow instruction, and when he doesn't get his own way, throws his toys out of the pram.

He's unelectable in my view.”

“David Gale says that he has a 'Zero-Tolerance Policy on everything'.

This is hilarious. His mouth is writing cheques that the current financial situation can't cash.

In New York City (the most celebrated use of Zero-Tolerance), they had to increase the police officer numbers by 35%.

So, at a time when all forces are reducing numbers of officers due to Government cuts, Mr Gale wants to employ 700 EXTRA officers!

What a joke.”

“Perhaps Mr Gale, as he is usually a regular poster, would like to clear up exactly how long his police career lasted?”

“@ Gitfiddlejim; Mr Gale has stood as an independent candidate in local and then as a UKIP candidate in the general election and was soundly thrashed on each occasion. Sadly his claims do not stand up to scrutiny and he has a very high opinion of his very limited talents and little understanding of the real world.
Now if that doesn't qualify him to be a politician I don't know what does. He views his own status as a politician along with his other claims to knowledge and experience.”

“To Derby accounts, please tell me where it says he is a Politician? Being a member of a Party does not make him a politician. I guess there is a chance that some other candidates all around the UK may be members of a political party, or a union member, what difference is there between them & Mr Gale, they will all have their own views, as to how to do the job, and will be somewhat influenced by them, just as Mr Gale may be.”

“What difference does it make as to his past experience as a police officer. If he can do the job regardless of some or no experience as a copper, whats the problem. At every cabinet reshuffle we see someone with no medical experience taking on the NHS, or no military experience taking on Defence, G Brown made a mess even with all his Economist degrees.
Whats wrong with introducing a fresh approach? At least we can vote these Commissioners out for making a mess, unlike certain other commissioners in Brussels.”

“Agree with Derby villager. What happened from March until now? Derby council problems?”

“Oh dear another politician is standing. He must have been encouraged by the flag waving and excitement at his party conference with Mr Farage. This makes me all the more determined to look at the Independent candidate ex-policeman as at least he has reasonable experience in all the vital areas and not just 2yrs in the police like this chap. Having had a quick look through Google he also has had issues with Derby City council over his normal job and UKIP party following.

It's beginning to unravel before its started for him.”

“Perhaps over-analytical.
I choose to read things three times over,just to be sure.
Theres no point skimming over these things,if it was a tv guide then i would understand that comment.

Good luck David.”

“So in March 2012 he tells the world he is standing as a PCC: http://tinyurl.com/7our6kw

Then he more recently is unsure until he know what the job entails.

Now he seems to have made his mind up again.

I'm not sure being a police officer for less than 2 years shows that you've got what it takes to be a PCC, but he has lots of other experience to draw on:

He trained at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He's been a video director/producer, BBC broadcaster, retail manager, features editor, championship winning Grand Prix motorcycle racer, and race team project director, grand prix engine designer ,race-tyre tester for, competition fencer, athletics coach, soccer coach, senior instructor at Honda's Superbike Race School, performance psychologist, professionally trained dancer, portrait photographer, published poet, and has been responsible for a number of design patents, including the automated domestic pet feeder and the Dual System Exhaust Valve.

Gosh, busy guy...”