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Police commissioner election results awaited Police commissioner election results awaited
(about 2 hours later)
Counting is due to start after elections to select the first police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales.  
In the first result of 41 police areas, the Conservative candidate was elected Wiltshire's PCC ahead of Labour after second preference votes were counted. The first police and crime commissioner in England and Wales has been decided in Wiltshire, as election counts are due to start in 40 other police areas.
Conservative Angus Macpherson was elected Wiltshire's PCC ahead of the Labour candidate after second preference votes were counted.
Meanwhile, Labour has held its seats in by-elections in both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth.Meanwhile, Labour has held its seats in by-elections in both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth.
Labour are also hopeful of taking a seat from the Conservatives in Corby. Labour is also hopeful of taking a seat from the Conservatives in Corby.
The first PCC elections look set to be mired in controversy amid reports of low turnout and deserted polling stations.The first PCC elections look set to be mired in controversy amid reports of low turnout and deserted polling stations.
In Wiltshire, 81,477 people out of a total electorate of 520,000 voted - a turnout of 15.8%.In Wiltshire, 81,477 people out of a total electorate of 520,000 voted - a turnout of 15.8%.
Conservative Angus Macpherson was elected police and crime commissioner for the county after a second round of voting. Returning officer Stephen Taylor said some people had complained about a lack of information.
"People have emailed and contacted us saying that they didn't know enough about the candidates in order to be able to make a choice and obviously that's something I have no control over," he told BBC News.
He added: "It would be good to have some analysis afterwards and see whether there's any lessons to be learned."
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Wiltshire PCC was beaten into fourth place by UKIP, although both were eliminated in the first round of voting.The Liberal Democrat candidate for Wiltshire PCC was beaten into fourth place by UKIP, although both were eliminated in the first round of voting.
Total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner has been confirmed as 13.5%.Total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner has been confirmed as 13.5%.
The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors".The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors".
The society has predicted a turnout of 18.5%, which would be below the previous record low in a national poll in peacetime of 23% in the 1999 European elections.The society has predicted a turnout of 18.5%, which would be below the previous record low in a national poll in peacetime of 23% in the 1999 European elections.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo told BBC One's This Week programme that the role of the police commissioners was "severely damaged" by the low turnout. Policing minister Damian Green said the PCCs were a new idea that would need time for people to get used to.
Labour ex-home secretary Alan Johnson said all political parties would have to "think about this again". "It would be better if more people voted but I think people will get more interested, when you try something new it takes people time to get up to speed on it," he told ITV1's Daybreak programme.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the PCC elections had been a "complete shambles'. He added: "The measure of this policy is not the turnout, it's what the police and crime commissioners achieve over the next few years."
"Time and again on the doorstep people told us either they didn't have enough information, didn't know the elections were happening, didn't support them or didn't want to go out in the dark to vote," she said. But Labour's Chuka Umunna said: "It has been a total shambles and the £100m spent on it could have been spent on 3,000 police officers.
"At least if you are going to have the elections, organise them properly and don't have them in the middle of winter."
The government insists whoever is elected will have a stronger mandate to set local crime fighting priorities than the unelected police authorities they will replace.The government insists whoever is elected will have a stronger mandate to set local crime fighting priorities than the unelected police authorities they will replace.
In the Manchester Central by-election, Labour candidate Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) was second and Conservative Matthew Sephton (754) came in third.In the Manchester Central by-election, Labour candidate Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) was second and Conservative Matthew Sephton (754) came in third.
The turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II.The turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II.
Ms Powell said: "With this result Manchester Central has sent this Tory-Lib Dem government a message - a clear message that we think their policies are wrong and unfair."Ms Powell said: "With this result Manchester Central has sent this Tory-Lib Dem government a message - a clear message that we think their policies are wrong and unfair."
In Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour's Stephen Doughty won with 9,193 votes, Conservative Craig Williams was second with 3,859 and Lib Dem Bablin Molik was third with 2,103. Labour's majority was 5,334 and the turnout was 25.65%.In Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour's Stephen Doughty won with 9,193 votes, Conservative Craig Williams was second with 3,859 and Lib Dem Bablin Molik was third with 2,103. Labour's majority was 5,334 and the turnout was 25.65%.
Mr Doughty said his victory was a "condemnation" of the policies and priorities of the Westminster government.Mr Doughty said his victory was a "condemnation" of the policies and priorities of the Westminster government.
The result is still awaited in the Corby by-election, which is seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron's premiership.The result is still awaited in the Corby by-election, which is seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron's premiership.
If Labour win, it would be the first time in 15 years the party has taken a Tory seat at a by-election. If Labour wins, it would be the first time in 15 years the party has taken a Tory seat at a by-election.
Counting will not get under way in Corby until Friday morning, with a result expected at about 12:00 GMT.Counting will not get under way in Corby until Friday morning, with a result expected at about 12:00 GMT.
The Corby contest was triggered by the resignation of Louise Mensch, the high profile former member of the Commons media select committee, who stood down after just over two years as Corby's MP to spend more time with her family. The Corby contest was triggered by the resignation of Louise Mensch, the high-profile former member of the Commons media select committee, who stood down after just over two years to spend more time with her family.
Mrs Mensch had a majority of less than 2,000 in a constituency that has regularly swung between Tory and Labour over the past 30 years - with voters always opting for the party that goes on to form a government.Mrs Mensch had a majority of less than 2,000 in a constituency that has regularly swung between Tory and Labour over the past 30 years - with voters always opting for the party that goes on to form a government.
On Twitter, she said her resignation sparked "entirely understandable local anger" and suggested that the Tories would lose the seat.On Twitter, she said her resignation sparked "entirely understandable local anger" and suggested that the Tories would lose the seat.
Voters in Bristol have also been to the polls to choose the city's first directly-elected mayor.Voters in Bristol have also been to the polls to choose the city's first directly-elected mayor.