'First police commissioners chosen amid turnout concerns' diff viewer (16/17)

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First police commissioners chosen amid turnout concerns	First police commissioners chosen amid turnout concerns
2012-11-16 17:15:03 UTC	2012-11-16 17:50:03 UTC (35 minutes later)
Latest As it happens Results Q&A Democratic deficit Independents win	Latest As it happens Results Q&A Democratic deficit Independents win
The first police and crime commissioners have been elected, as concerns are raised about low turnout in parts of England and Wales.	The first police and crime commissioners have been elected, as concerns are raised about low turnout in parts of England and Wales.
Numerous areas have confirmed turnouts ranging from 13-20%.	Numerous areas have confirmed turnouts ranging from 13-20%.
The chairwoman of the Electoral Commission said the turnout was "a concern for everyone who cares about democracy".	The chairwoman of the Electoral Commission said the turnout was "a concern for everyone who cares about democracy".
David Cameron said numbers were always going to be low when holding an election for the first time.	David Cameron said numbers were always going to be low when holding an election for the first time.
"It takes time to explain a new post," the prime minister said, and he predicted voting numbers would be "much higher next time round".	"It takes time to explain a new post," the prime minister said, and he predicted voting numbers would be "much higher next time round".
Police and crime commissioners will have powers to hire and fire chief constables and set police strategy and budgets.	Police and crime commissioners will have powers to hire and fire chief constables and set police strategy and budgets.
The government says PCCs will give local people more control over policing, but opponents have warned the changes will politicise the police - and low turnout shows people don't want them.	The government says PCCs will give local people more control over policing, but opponents have warned the changes will politicise the police - and low turnout shows people don't want them.
As the election results started to come in on Friday, it became clear many voters had stayed away from the polls.	As the election results started to come in on Friday, it became clear many voters had stayed away from the polls.
In Gwent, where turnout was 14.3% overall, one polling station in Newport was visited by no voters at all In the Manchester Central parliamentary by-election, Lucy Powell held the seat for Labour with a majority of 9,936 votes; the turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II In the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election, Labour's Stephen Doughty held with a majority of 5,334; turnout was 25.65% Labour's Andy Sawford won the Corby by-election, becoming the first Labour candidate in 15 years to take a Tory seat in a by-election. It was seen as a crucial mid-term test of Mr Cameron's premiership In Wales, two of the four elections for PCCs were won by independents, including Winston Roddick who became the first independent to be elected, with a victory in North Wales Former police chief Martyn Underhill, who was second in charge during the Sarah Payne murder investigation, has been voted Dorset's first police and crime commissioner In the first election for a mayor in Bristol, independent George Ferguson won Find your results	In Gwent, where turnout was 14.3% overall, one polling station in Newport was visited by no voters at all In the Manchester Central parliamentary by-election, Lucy Powell held the seat for Labour with a majority of 9,936 votes; the turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II In the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election, Labour's Stephen Doughty held with a majority of 5,334; turnout was 25.65% Labour's Andy Sawford won the Corby by-election, becoming the first Labour candidate in 15 years to take a Tory seat in a by-election. It was seen as a crucial mid-term test of Mr Cameron's premiership Former Labour deputy prime minister Lord Prescott appeared to have lost his bid in Humberside, with Conservative Matthew Grove taking the role In Wales, two of the four elections for PCCs were won by independents, including Winston Roddick who became the first independent to be elected, with a victory in North Wales Former police chief Martyn Underhill, who was second in charge during the Sarah Payne murder investigation, has been voted Dorset's first police and crime commissioner In the first election for a mayor in Bristol, independent George Ferguson won Find your results
The record low for a national poll in peacetime is the 23% turnout for the 1999 European elections.	The record low for a national poll in peacetime is the 23% turnout for the 1999 European elections.
Indifference and ignorance has surrounded the contests to be Police and Crime Commissioners.	Indifference and ignorance has surrounded the contests to be Police and Crime Commissioners.
With turnout in the teens in many places, questions are being asked about the credibility of the whole idea and the mandate of those who have won.	With turnout in the teens in many places, questions are being asked about the credibility of the whole idea and the mandate of those who have won.
There was a perfect storm for a low turnout.	There was a perfect storm for a low turnout.
Firstly, replacing something many people hadn't heard of, police authorities, with something many don't yet understand, police commissioners.	Firstly, replacing something many people hadn't heard of, police authorities, with something many don't yet understand, police commissioners.
Secondly, asking people to schlep to the polling station on a miserable day in November.	Secondly, asking people to schlep to the polling station on a miserable day in November.
Thirdly, the government deciding not to fund a mailshot to all voters with information on local candidates, encouraging people to look information up online instead.	Thirdly, the government deciding not to fund a mailshot to all voters with information on local candidates, encouraging people to look information up online instead.
But make no mistake. This is a very big change to how the police are governed. And removing the right to have a say - democracy - once it has been introduced, is very difficult.	But make no mistake. This is a very big change to how the police are governed. And removing the right to have a say - democracy - once it has been introduced, is very difficult.
Turnout in the PCC election was 12.9% in Merseyside, 13.3% in Thames Valley, and 13.5% in Greater Manchester. These figures include spoilt ballot papers.	Turnout in the PCC election was 12.9% in Merseyside, 13.3% in Thames Valley, and 13.5% in Greater Manchester. These figures include spoilt ballot papers.
Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson said: "These were new elections taking place at an unfamiliar time of year, which is why we have made clear at every stage that it would be important to engage effectively with voters.	Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson said: "These were new elections taking place at an unfamiliar time of year, which is why we have made clear at every stage that it would be important to engage effectively with voters.
"The government took a number of decisions about how to run these elections that we did not agree with. But what is important now is that the right lessons are learnt: we will talk to voters, candidates and returning officers to understand what worked and what didn't.	"The government took a number of decisions about how to run these elections that we did not agree with. But what is important now is that the right lessons are learnt: we will talk to voters, candidates and returning officers to understand what worked and what didn't.
"The commission is going to undertake a thorough review, and we will present our findings to Parliament in early 2013."	"The commission is going to undertake a thorough review, and we will present our findings to Parliament in early 2013."
Elections expert Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said it could be the worst turnout ever.	Elections expert Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said it could be the worst turnout ever.
He added the elections "raised questions" about whether the whole exercise was worth it.	He added the elections "raised questions" about whether the whole exercise was worth it.
But Downing Street sources partly blamed the media, saying because the elections had not been held in London they had generated insufficient national news coverage.	But Downing Street sources partly blamed the media, saying because the elections had not been held in London they had generated insufficient national news coverage.
"The national media have not covered themselves in glory," a No 10 source said.	"The national media have not covered themselves in glory," a No 10 source said.
Read more from Mark	Read more from Mark
However, Home Secretary Theresa May did not blame the media, but said first elections were always difficult. "The police and crime commissioners are visible, they'll be accessible, they've been elected and crucially they will be accountable to people through the ballot box."	However, Home Secretary Theresa May did not blame the media, but said first elections were always difficult. "The police and crime commissioners are visible, they'll be accessible, they've been elected and crucially they will be accountable to people through the ballot box."
	Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said many people had been cross about a lack of information, including what the job entailed and who the candidates were.
	"It's not acceptable to be so careless with democracy, so careless with policing, but also so careless with money for the tax payer too."
Labour's Chuka Umunna called the elections "a total shambles", suggesting the £100m cost would have paid for 3,000 police officers.	Labour's Chuka Umunna called the elections "a total shambles", suggesting the £100m cost would have paid for 3,000 police officers.
~~He added: "At least if you are going to have the elections, organise them properly and don't have them in the middle of winter."~~
Turnout reached 27.48% in the PCC election in Bristol, where voters were also going to the polls to choose the city's first directly-elected mayor, but across the Avon and Somerset police area as a whole it dropped to 19.58%.	Turnout reached 27.48% in the PCC election in Bristol, where voters were also going to the polls to choose the city's first directly-elected mayor, but across the Avon and Somerset police area as a whole it dropped to 19.58%.
Darren Hughes of the Electoral Reform Society said the PCC elections had started as a flagship government policy, but had descended into a "farce".	Darren Hughes of the Electoral Reform Society said the PCC elections had started as a flagship government policy, but had descended into a "farce".
He said having an election in November was "crazy", but resourcing of the election needed to be addressed as well, so that candidates are able to cover areas larger than a usual constituency.	He said having an election in November was "crazy", but resourcing of the election needed to be addressed as well, so that candidates are able to cover areas larger than a usual constituency.
The first PCC to be elected was Angus Macpherson, in Wiltshire, where he beat the Labour candidate after second preference votes were counted.	The first PCC to be elected was Angus Macpherson, in Wiltshire, where he beat the Labour candidate after second preference votes were counted.
In Wiltshire, where 15.3% of those eligible voted, returning officer Stephen Taylor said some people had complained about a lack of information.	In Wiltshire, where 15.3% of those eligible voted, 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.	"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.
	One of five successful independents in England, Ann Barnes, a former Kent Police Authority chairwoman, said the "real winners are the people of Kent who did not want their police force to be politicised".
In Dorset, successful candidate Mr Underhill said his "number one" priority was to hire a chief constable "with my vision".	In Dorset, successful candidate Mr Underhill said his "number one" priority was to hire a chief constable "with my vision".
"There's a lot to do in the first 100 days."	"There's a lot to do in the first 100 days."
The first PCC for Lancashire, Labour's Clive Grunshaw, said it was a "new era for policing", while the North Yorkshire PCC, Conservative Julia Mulligan, said she intended to work hard "without political prejudice."	The first PCC for Lancashire, Labour's Clive Grunshaw, said it was a "new era for policing", while the North Yorkshire PCC, Conservative Julia Mulligan, said she intended to work hard "without political prejudice."
In Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld said after his election success: "I am a Conservative but I haven't had a gilded life. You grow up quickly commanding a platoon in the jungles of Borneo."	In Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld said after his election success: "I am a Conservative but I haven't had a gilded life. You grow up quickly commanding a platoon in the jungles of Borneo."