PREPARATIONS for the elections of a new police commissioner for the county are well under way according to the force’s governing body.

Directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners are being brought in by the coalition Government to replace police authorities in England and Wales from November.

The PCCs will have the power to hire and fire Chief Constables, and set the force’s budget and strategy but opposition groups have criticised the move.

Wiltshire Police Authority, which will be disbanded later this year, have been getting ready to hand over and smooth the transition of the newly-elected official.

Former Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Brian Moore was seconded to work for the new Border Force, where he took office this week, and Acting-Chief Constable Pat Geenty will remain at the helm until March next year.

The election is expected to be party political, with candidates nominated on a regional level but all mainstream political groups are at an early stage in the process.

Notable candidates in other areas include former deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott, while senior officers have warned over the potential for political pressure to corrupt the office of chief constable.

Christopher Hoare, chairman of the Wiltshire Police Authority, said the move represented a major change to how the country’s constabulary is run.

“It will be a significant cultural change for the police and its partners,” he said.

“We think it is a great opportunity. The person coming in will have a mandate from the public and will be responsible for policing and crime.

“It is quite broad and they will be accountable to the electorate not just for policing but also other crime agencies.

“Their first job will be to appoint a chief constable - who they think will be the person they want to deliver their mandate.”

“We have a timeline for transition and we are working to help partners and providers understand how it will work.”