Great - thugs, bigots and ill educated "plain speakers" from the BNP to run the country - looks like its going to end up like Zimbabwe. It is a lesson in history that those who claim to be the most patriotic end up destroying the country.....

Harnol, London,

I wish that people, who obviously do not live in the UK, would not comment on issues which do not affect them! The police were never there to be popular. They were created to protect the ruling classes from the criminal classes. Not to win popularity contests. Keep politics out of policing

Steve Burrell, York, England

Stalin would be proud, the BNP are perhaps the last remaining hope for Britain.

I shudder at the prospect of more of the same.

Michael Green, Coventry,

Rather than say 'oh no, you're all so racist', ask why people feel they are so desperate that they consider voting BNP. Labour have made things so bad, that normal people are desperate!

Arthur, Newcastle,

the sooner the police are responding to locaL citizens than their political masters in whitehall the sooner the politcal corrector's minority groups will lose their lobbyst powers and this can only be for the common good,For myself I trust the butcher,the baker,the candlestick maker more.

w smith, barrie ontario, canada

The BNP are a legitimate political party, so why shouldn't they stand in elections. I'm not a BNP voter, but the constant anti-BNP slant of the media really annoys me. They can say the same as another political party and they get attacked for it.

John, London, England

The BNP aren't really far right, this is just the media in effect.
If anyone is far right, that prize should surely go to Lab,Lib,Cons,the BNP have the interests of us Brits at heart, and this case shows it right here.
I shall vote BNP at the next election,they want beautiful Britain back,like me.

Alex F, Oxford, England

In all to many government bodies it seems that the 'lunatics are running the asylum'. The BNP intends to bring common sense into the 'equation' after many long and destructive years of liberal nonsense. The 'politically correct handcuffs' must be removed.

robert, solihull, uk

I will be voting BNP at the next opportunity. I have always voted Tory but am so dis-illusioned with them. This country will soon be beyond saving thanks to unmanageable and unsustainable mass immigration coupled with Brown's appalling "prudence" with our economy and public spending. Depressed.

Lee Martin, Cheltenham, UK

The BNP are a legitimate political party, I used to be a staunch labour supporter, but for the last three years I have voted BNP and will continue to do so because the mainstream parties do not take the concerns of the British people seriously,crime is a major issue, and the judicial system a farce.

Dave Lomas, Prestatyn, Denbighshire

To avoid having large BNP representation perhaps the various parties and interested people should listen to why they are appearing to be in tune with many. To ignore the fact that the public want the police to actually deal in a tough manner with crime is to invite extreme parties into power.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

Excellent! Seems to work in America. Gets my vote!

Archie, Thrapston, England

Like them or loathe them, the BNP are a legal political party & as such they have the right to contest any election, inc. police authorities. If the other parties cannot win by dint of their arguments, perhaps they need to address some of their policies. The BNP are growing because of genuine fears.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Introducing elections would make it even harder for people who are currently underrepresented to get involved with their police authority

Perhaps then we will get someone we want who we know can do the job rather than some politically correct appointee. People should be selected solely on ability

WP, London, UK

“Introducing elections would make it even harder for people who are currently underrepresented in the oversight of policing to get involved with their police authority.”

Well, if they are good at policing, they will get my vote, whether they be green- or blue-skinned or dwarf Eskimo Satanists.

Jake, London, UK

I'm thinking that most of the 26 posters so far must be a handful of BNP members posting because surely the British public is not as thick as wanting the BNP in chage of the police?

Hilter, the Nazis? Have you never heard of the saying absolute power corrupts?

kim, london,

In a democracy the public are able to vote BNP. Therefore if the BNP get the most votes they will get elected. I have no problem with that.

Robert Eve, Marlborough,

I think most people would prefer the BNP to have control of the police than the corrupt, anti-white, politically correct shower we have now.
I certainly would, and I intend voting BNP at the next opportunity.

Arthur, Swindon, England

I am tired of the minorities always saying they are not represented.They are MINORITIES so why should they govern our country.Traditionnaly in UK we are white...fair enough we want to stay in power in on own country.

Sam, London, UK

Direct election to the police is nothing but the creation of another job opportunity for the party Apparatchiks. Only profession that has flourished during the new Labour is Politics where the pay and perks are fantastic and more opportunities are created continuously.

S Yogarajah, Harrow, UK

At least the BNP seak thr TRUTH that is more than any other political party, I would certainly vote for them

Syd, Leeds, UK

Shudderingly scary that so many on here are pro far right....and we've just had Rememberence Sunday.

Kathryn, Preston, UK

Well, last week I was handed the BNP booklet, "Racism Cuts Both Ways", and found that it highlights a problem about racial attacks against whites that many of the ordinary public are aware of, but which the mainstream media seem to be studiously ignoring. More strength to the BNP's elbow, I say.

Chelsey, Brighton, England

I have conections with the police and a vast majority of them would lover the BNP to have some influence in how they police. Many police officers have said to me it's very frustrating we can't do anything due to sertain rules and regulations ie alot of law braker can get away with the crime. BNP yes

Andrew, Edgware london, ENGLAND

Perhaps the BNP can rid the Police of the PCism currently pervading the force !!

Brian Wilson, Edinburgh,

Strictly policing is something I would vote for any day and the best Sergeant would win any so called "democratic" vote requested of the public and thereby upset the current judiciary.

alan, worcs, uk

Believe it or not the BNP is a political part and perfectly legitimate. I'm voting for them for the first time next election, for the sake of keeping democracy free. Given a choice of UK destruction by LabConLib Alliance or society again with the BNP, then there's really no choice.

Marcus, London, England

Public needs to be informed and told why they should vote and who the choices are. We ball have to take more interest in our country as it could easily slip into undesirable hands. I mean look who we have for London Mayor.

Gideon, leeds, uk

The 'unite against facism' clan would have the same oppurtunity to get elected, only no one would vote for them.What we will have next will be a democratic process where we will all be compelled to vote for the already elected party.Sound anything like Zimbabwe?Whats the point of selective democracy

rob, ashbourne, uk

BNP to take control of tne police?

Frankly, I've long been under the impression it already had done.

Robert, Hull, Uk

Catchy headline but disappointing that the thrust of it is actually only an attempt at the democratic process. The police have been hamstrung by form filling and politically correct senior officers.
The BNP are mopping up support like a huge sponge, expect more of it.

Gladys, Fife, UK

Simple democracy is dangerous. Just look at Strictly Come Dancing. It can go 'all wrong' and tell you what the public really wants.

Alan, Warrington, UK

Don`t go the road of some southern US states, where the elected sheriff and deputies were members of the KKK.

margie, victoria , australia

Direct elections got us New Labour - says it all really!

Roger Lorton, Nongprue, Thailand

The town of Wivenhoe, Essex, we have an excellent working partnership with the police. Any concerns are addressed, we are informed of the result. Reports are received on alleged crime, these are discussed by members of the community and town council and any necessary action taken . Change!!!!!!!!

Cllr: Ken Rogers. MA. FIISec. MIRSM., Wivenhoe, Essex

People don’t want to put up with that and they’ll want something done about it."

A 100% factual & accurate statement.

The Police & criminal justice system need some pratical direction & control with a good dose of common sense.

Gets my vote, and I dare say a good deal more!!

wake up!

Shaun, Newcastle, Tyneside

No, John. Darby is not 'plain talking', he is simplifying a highly complex issue and this leads to bad decisions. Being 'tough on crime' is an appealing message but as the American experience shows, ignoring the real reasons for crime boosts jail numbers and costs society far more in the long term.

Pete, O 'Connor,

With democratic elections you cannot control whom the public elects, so any 'diversity representation targets' set by government, which women and BME especially welcome, would go straight out the window, this is what appears to be the main issue here, when crime reduction should be the main issue.

Les, Southport, England

The thrust of your article may well be correct but unfortunately democracy sometimes has consequences unintended by those proposing its extension! Could it be that the "silent majority" are in fact dissatisfied with the status quo in relation to the robustness of our street policing?

Bob M, Chertsey, UK

I would echo John from London's comments - It "should" result in a higher quality police force.

Saima Afzal - "Introducing elections would make it even harder for people who are currently underrepresented" - is that not a contradiction?
Sounds like Positive discrimination from where I'm sitting.

Dan, Cork, Ireland

Policing was always supposed to be politically neutral. Why are so many 'spokespersons' for the police making political pionts on these democratic proposals?

M Lumley, Leeds,

I think your headline should read BNP plan to have representation, rather than seize control of police through direct elections. Simon Darby's comments certainly seem to hit the nail on the head. If that's the plain talking we're going to get from BNP representatives I look forward to their input.

John, London, England