Local councillor, Jonathon Seed, who is standing for election to be the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, has responded to a petition calling for a “vote of no confidence” in him.
The petition, by campaign group Keep The Ban, which has been supported by nearly 18,000 people, says that it has “serious concerns” about Jonathon Seed – who is also a Wiltshire councillor representing Summerham and Seend – having a position of senior authority within the police, because of his previous connections to fox hunting in his role as hunt master.
In response, Jonathon Seed said, “I have lived in rural Wiltshire for most of my adult life. Like millions of people in the UK I take part in legal country sports. For 20 years I was a master of two local hunts in Wiltshire. I finished nine years ago and happen not to have ridden with a hunt for several years.
“Hunting is a very emotive subject for a very small proportion of our residents who are either anti hunt or pro hunt. I have been very clear that fox hunting is now illegal and I do not support the breaking of the Hunting Act or any other laws.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I am asked this question, my answer will be the same, I support robust policing of all illegal activity in the countryside including illegal hunting, illegal hare coursing, violence, and illegal interference with lawful activities in the countryside.
“I am not concerned about a petition where 99% of the signatories live outside Wiltshire. I am more concerned about the disgusting cyber bullying and threats of violence against me and my team which many of the people who signed this petition have been involved in.
“Finally let’s be clear that the role of PCC does not involve operational policing – that is entirely the responsibility of the Chief Constable.”
The next Police and Crime Commissioner election takes place on 6th May. Police and Crime Commissioners are elected for a four-year term to oversee how crime is tackled in a police force area. Their aim is to reduce crime and ensure the police are effective.
