Elections and Purdah

We were in the pre-election period (Purdah) for the local authority elections – until after elections took place on 4 May 2017.

The Code of Practice on Local Authority Resources prevents the use of public resources for party political purposes. Some key points that were relevant to us:

• All public information about policing should be available equally to all candidates

• Our facilities cannot be used for party political purposes, this includes the use of rooms, buildings, IT equipment, telephones, photographs etc

• While it is business as usual it is also good practice not to announce significant new policies or plans during the pre-election period

We may be approached by electoral candidates with requests for information or to visit part of the estate. All such requests should be put in writing via the office email address so they can be logged and responded to appropriately.

As officers of the OPCC we are in a politically restricted post and therefore must remain impartial at all times. Any interaction, no matter how small, could be used to show support for – or opposition to – a candidate, a party or a position.  This includes personal use of social or digital media accounts.

As a reminder holders of politically restricted posts are prevented from:

• Canvassing on behalf of a political party or on behalf of a person who is, or proposes to be, a candidate for election to Parliament, European Parliament or a local authority.

• Acting as an election agent or sub-agent for a candidate for Parliament, European Parliament or a local authority.

• Being an officer of a political party, or of any branch of such a party, or a member of any committee or sub-committee of such a party or branch if his/her duties as such an officer or member would be likely to require him/her—

• participating in the general management of the party or the branch; or

• acting on behalf of the party or branch in dealings with persons other than members of the party or members of another political party associated with the party.