CAMPAIGN: Does Your Councillor Have a Criminal Background?

 

Would you like to know?

 

For months, Somerset Independents has been campaigning for ALL Somerset councillors to be checked against criminal records. These used to be called "CRB" checks and are now called "DBS Checks", as explained in our previous articles.

 

Two months ago back in August, we asked all four Somerset district councils whether they checked their councillors. We also asked Somerset County Council. The Leveller newspaper also asked questions in its September edition (see photo).

The Leveller Article 15 Sept 2020

The lack of quick replies from most of the councils was concerning. You would think that they had given this issue due consideration, wouldn't you, and answers would be at their fingertips? But they hadn't. And the answers were not forthcoming.

 

But when we actually got the answers, they were extremely concerning. They confirmed what we had suspected - that most councils in Somerset do not check on their councillors!

 

Three of the district councils are now Lib-Dem controlled. One (Sedgemoor) is Tory-controlled. The Tories also control the County.

 

The Results Are In!

Somerset West and Taunton Council

Two months after we had asked, Lib-Dem controlled Somerset West and Taunton Council STILL HAD NOT ANSWERED! When they did finally answer, after us having to chase them, they confirmed that they DID NOT check on councillors. They promised us a response in 20 days but it took three times as long. Do you think this is right?

Mendip District Council

Lib-Dem controlled Mendip District Council answered quickly. BUT they confirmed that they DID NOT carry out any criminal records checks for any of their councillors. And even more disturbingly, it was Mendip councillors THEMSELVES that had REPEATEDLY refused to bring in checks! Officers at the Council had brought it up on the agenda of more than one meeting, for councillors to decide. And time and again, those same councillors decided to not subject themselves to checks. Do you think this is right?

South Somerset District Council

Lib-Dem controlled South Somerset District Council confirmed that they also DID NOT check on councillors. Let's not forget that former Lib-Dem Leader of this Council Ric Pallister is to face trial for a large number of alleged criminal offences. He is innocent until proven guilty of course. We asked this Council extra questions, but subject to the outcome of the trial, we will not be publishing any answers relating to Mr Pallister for now. Do you think this is right, especially given the gravity of the situation?

Sedgemoor District Council

Tory-controlled Sedgemoor District Council confirmed that it DID perform checks on councillors. This is the only district council of the four Somerset districts. BUT the reasons they gave were odd and related to IT systems.

Somerset County Council

Somerset County Council confirmed that they DID carry out checks on councillors, with extra checks for some roles.  

 

Somerset Independents Spokesperson on Safeguarding, Denise Wyatt, says:

 

Denise Wyatt

"We applaud Somerset County Council for doing the criminal records checks. We ask all district councils to follow their lead.

Why aren't the districts doing it? How can they justify this? 

Why are there so many inconsistencies? Because the councils are not required by law to check on councillors.

The reasons given by the councils are not only wrong morally and in terms of safeguarding, these councils are showing clear ignorance of the facts and of the law."

 

Somerset Independents Leader Andrew Pope, says:

Andrew Pope

"If Somerset's district councils are not allowed to make DBS checks as they told us, why is it that other districts outside Somerset are doing the checks, then? Are Somerset district councils subject to different laws than others in England? No.

Cost should not come into it. What some councils do is take the fee for the DBS checks from the councillors allowances. It is a small price to pay for councillors to protect themselves and others.

Do you think that the councils should check on councillors? Please let us know your views, yes or no and why.

Join us to campaign for better councillors and better councils.

To get updates, Like our Facebook page at Somerset Independents, follow our Twitter @SomerInds and email us at somerinds [at] gmail.com ."

  

Protecting Residents