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Police commissioner election results awaited Police commissioner election results awaited
(35 minutes later)
  
The first police and crime commissioner (PCC) in England and Wales has been elected in Wiltshire, as counts are due to start in 40 other police areas. The first police and crime commissioner (PCC) in England and Wales has been elected in Wiltshire, as vote results are awaited in 40 other police areas.
Conservative Angus Macpherson was elected as Wiltshire's PCC ahead of the Labour candidate after second preference votes were counted.Conservative Angus Macpherson was elected as Wiltshire's PCC ahead of the Labour candidate after second preference votes were counted.
The first PCC elections face likely controversy over reported low turnouts.The first PCC elections face likely controversy over reported low turnouts.
Turnout was 14.3% in Gwent, 13.5% in Greater Manchester, and some West Midlands councils reported 12-13%. Turnout was 12.9% in Merseyside, 13.5% in Greater Manchester, and some West Midlands councils reported 12-13%.
In Gwent, where turnout was 14.3% overall, one polling station in Caldicot saw a turnout of just 4%.
Elections expert Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said there were indications of the worst voter turnout ever.

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In Wiltshire, where 15.3% - 78,794 people out of a total electorate of 514,855 - 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.
He added: "It would be good to have some analysis afterwards and see whether there are any lessons to be learned."
Mr Macpherson said: "I think it's incumbent on all police commissioners as we all take office to actually develop this job and let people know what it is."
'Middle of winter'
The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors".
The society 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.
Policing minister Damian Green said the PCCs were a new idea that would need time for people to get used to.Policing minister Damian Green said the PCCs were a new idea that would need time for people to get used to.
"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. "Millions of people voted yesterday - nobody ever voted for the chair of a police authority so there's clearly a democratic mandate that wasn't there before," he said.
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." "The measure of this policy is not the turnout, it's what the police and crime commissioners achieve over the next few years," he also told ITV1's Daybreak programme.
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.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.""At least if you are going to have the elections, organise them properly and don't have them in the middle of winter."
Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: "I've been out on the doorsteps and people did not want to go out in the cold and they didn't want to go out in the fog, they didn't have enough information on what was happening."Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: "I've been out on the doorsteps and people did not want to go out in the cold and they didn't want to go out in the fog, they didn't have enough information on what was happening."
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. Lessons to learn
By-election turnout The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors".
The society 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.
In Wiltshire, where 15.3% - 78,794 people out of a total electorate of 514,855 - 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.
He added: "It would be good to have some analysis afterwards and see whether there are any lessons to be learned."
Mr Macpherson said: "I think it's incumbent on all police commissioners as we all take office to actually develop this job and let people know what it is."
Professor Curtice said: "It looks pretty likely that this will be the worst turnout in any nationwide set of elections ever and therefore will raise questions about whether this whole exercise was worth it in the first place."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a lack of "real choices" in an election made it difficult to persuade the electorate to vote.
"The candidates were all saying, 'We want more police on the beat, we want to tackle anti-social behaviour, we want the police to be more efficient.' It is very difficult to find an obvious difference between them in terms of strategic direction."
By-election results
Meanwhile, Labour has held its seats in by-elections in both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth, and is hopeful of taking a seat from the Conservatives in Corby.Meanwhile, Labour has held its seats in by-elections in both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth, and is hopeful of taking a seat from the Conservatives in Corby.
In the Manchester Central parliamentary by-election, Labour candidate Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) came second and Conservative Matthew Sephton (754) came in third.In the Manchester Central parliamentary by-election, Labour candidate Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) came 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 came 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 came 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 in the Corby by-election, which is seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron's premiership, is expected at about 13:00 GMT.The result in the Corby by-election, which is seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron's premiership, is expected at about 13:00 GMT.
If Labour wins, 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.
The 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 relocate to New York with her family.The 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 relocate to New York 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.
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.