Every time I read posts about Adam Simmonds in the newspapers, I am astounded by the hostility he provokes from the general public in the comments section. Quite frankly I have never seen so many negative comments about anyone, not even a politician!
The initial furore erupted over Simmonds so called “cronyism” when he appointed four assistant commissioners, namely Kathryn Buckle (his campaign agent and "best friend"), Peter Heaton, (his campaign spokesman), John Raisin and Iain Britton. Peter Heaton and John Raisin were Simmonds’ previous colleagues at Northamptonshire County Council and Iain Britton was previously deputy head of policy for Northamptonshire Police. Simmonds came under fire in 2013 after budgeting up to £260,000 for his new management team. The full time salaries of these four jobs at level PMG4 was in excess of £65,000.
The criticism that these appointments provoked was damning on many levels:
- The appointments were undemocratic. The Police and Crime Panels which scrutinise the appointments of commissioners can only make recommendations; they do not have the power to block appointments.
- The appointments were not necessary since Simmonds inherited paid staff from the old police authority.
- Simmonds actions were contrary to his frequent statements about making savings.
- The jobs were not advertised and interviews were not held.
- The appointees did not have the necessary experience.
- Simmonds did not observe normal procedure for public appointments.
Peter Heaton and John Raisin announced they would be “stepping down” in June of this year. The phrasal verb “step down” implies that this was a decision taken by these men themselves, but apparently not so! These two men were made redundant, they did not “step down” voluntarily at all. The burning question asked by one reader is whether these men will receive redundancy payments.
Simmonds has announced that the staff will not be replaced, saving £114,000!!! How much money would have been saved if Simmonds had not acted so foolishly in employing his cronies in the first place?
“Northamptonshire Police said both posts had been subject to contractual notice periods and had been made redundant.
A Freedom of Information request by the BBC last month revealed Mr Simmonds' then 17-strong team cost £1.12m.
The old police authority cost £694,599.”
There are also burning questions being voiced about Wootton Park School, the 900 non-existent special constables and the controversial merging of the Police and the Fire Service. Justin Brown is much more qualified to address these issues than myself. http://www.justintelligence.net/
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that Labour would remove the PCC posts if they won next year’s election. The Liberal Democrats have branded PCC's a failure and have also pledged to scrap the position. Phew - let us all hope and pray that whoever is elected will remove the highly unpopular PCC posts.
My own complaint against Adam Simmonds has been a complete farce from start to finish:
Simmonds was responsible for removing two of my posts on Blogger in February. These posts were a critique of Trinity Life Church in Leicester (part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God denomination) of which Simmonds is Director and Trustee. Simmonds claims he took this action under his own name, a claim that I have questioned for a number of reasons outlined in previous posts.
My complaint against Adam Simmonds, PCC for Northamptonshire was “considered” by the toothless Northamptonshire Police & Crime Panel (PCP). I say “toothless” because the PCP is a joint committee of each of the councils in Northamptonshire set up by legislation to scrutinise the PCC. The irony is that one of the statutory functions of the PCP is to deal with complaints about Simmonds conduct, and yet they have informed the Government Ombudsman that they have “no investigatory powers” i.e. they are powerless to investigate any complaints about his conduct. That being the case, what precisely is the point of their existence? The Government Ombudsman in turn are also toothless since they cannot change the system that exists for scrutiny of a PCC - they can only look at the way the current system has been implemented. This situation makes Adam Simmonds effectively unanswerable – he is an autocrat and can do and say anything he likes because no-one has the power to investigate his actions and hold him to account! Ironically, Simmonds talks a lot about accountability, but he does not like to be held accountable himself! My recourse now has been to contact Liberty80 and to write to the PM in protest.
The main problem I have with Adam Simmonds is that he does all these terrible things and yet at the same time he claims to be an evangelical Christian - this seems to me to be a complete contradiction in terms. I am acutely aware that someone with a public profile like Simmonds needs to be especially careful about his Christian witness to the outside world - having a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things (Hebrews 13/18). All the criticisms against Simmonds I have read concern autocracy, abuse of power, lack of transparency, egotism, honesty, truth and fairness. I believe that Simmonds is bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ into disrepute and that because of him the way of truth will be blasphemed (2 Peter 2/2). In fact I have already read some derogatory comments about his faith.
The Apostle Paul wrote that overseers in the church (which is what Simmonds is) should be above reproach (Titus 1/7):
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
I am not levelling all the above faults against Simmonds as I do not know him personally, but certainly some of them stand out to me. I also contend that Trinity Life Church in Leicester has lost its way spiritually and is being run along similar ungodly "empire building" principles that Simmonds employs in his PCC role. This is a matter of grave concern and prayer.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7/21)
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7/15-19)
https://www.change.org/p/david-cameron-sack-adam-simmonds-police-and-crime-commissioner-for-northamptonshire - "This petition is a vote of no confidence in Adam Simmonds, a man who puts his ego and media profile ahead of the people of Northamptonshire."
https://www.change.org/p/keith-vaz-mp-chair-of-home-affairs-select-committee-public-inquiry-into-wootton-park-school-the-northampton-free-school-trust - "We request a public inquiry to determine what degree of involvement the PCC and his office have in relation to this School, how it benefits Northamptonshire Police, how it benefits the people of Northamptonshire and why has Adam Simmonds seemingly colluded with Political allies and previous colleagues in pushing forward this School. Who really stands to benefit?"
Dear Reader – Do you have questions about Jesus Christ and how to be truly saved? If so, then please read my post: GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
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