Euw! Nasty, expensive democracy!

Labour chairman of the (Hampshire Police) authority, Cllr Jacqui Rayment, said staging the elections for a police commissioner, who would oversee policing in the two counties, could cost around £2m, the equivalent of almost 70 police officers, if the planned shake-up of police management in the two counties went ahead.

Well, love, we can't actually spend money to ensure people have a say over how their local police forces are run, can we? Much better to leave it all to the likes of you, eh? I mean, your party never wasted money on.... oh....

Hopeless in Hampshire, part 894

As usual, Hampshire Police find themselves rowing backwards faster than Redgrave and Pinsentt, after their over-officious boobies fined Kay Baldson and Chris Bates for painting THEIR OWN GARDEN FENCE and accidentally spilling a few flecks over the side of their litigious neighbour. Naturally HP threatened them with court unless the fine has been paid but now, with the story making the national news, have 'geenrously' decided to refund the fine.

Too late. Damage done, and it'll take more than a few teaspoons of turpentine to undo.