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| Police commissioner elections a shambles, says Labour | Police commissioner elections a shambles, says Labour |
| (8 days later) | |
| Voters were not given enough information about the police and crime commissioner elections, Labour has claimed as turnout is expected to be as low as 10% in some areas. | Voters were not given enough information about the police and crime commissioner elections, Labour has claimed as turnout is expected to be as low as 10% in some areas. |
| The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said elections for the commissioners had descended into a shambles, with many voters taking to Twitter to describe the low turnout at their polling stations. | The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said elections for the commissioners had descended into a shambles, with many voters taking to Twitter to describe the low turnout at their polling stations. |
| In Wiltshire, the first force area to declare, the overall turnout was 15.8% as Tory candidate Angus Macpherson, a magistrate, won after a second round of voting, ahead of Labour's Clare Moody. | In Wiltshire, the first force area to declare, the overall turnout was 15.8% as Tory candidate Angus Macpherson, a magistrate, won after a second round of voting, ahead of Labour's Clare Moody. |
| But in some parts of the county, the turnout was much lower. In Trowbridge, it was as low as 10.95%, according to unofficial counting, while it was 10.41% in Devizes. | But in some parts of the county, the turnout was much lower. In Trowbridge, it was as low as 10.95%, according to unofficial counting, while it was 10.41% in Devizes. |
| On Friday morning, Labour criticised the government for not doing enough to promote the elections. | On Friday morning, Labour criticised the government for not doing enough to promote the elections. |
| Cooper said: "We warned the government repeatedly that they had the wrong approach and that turnout would be low. Theresa May and David Cameron didn't listen and it is shocking that they have spent £100m on these elections rather than on 3,000 police constables instead. | Cooper said: "We warned the government repeatedly that they had the wrong approach and that turnout would be low. Theresa May and David Cameron didn't listen and it is shocking that they have spent £100m on these elections rather than on 3,000 police constables instead. |
| "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." | "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." |
| In the most radical shakeup of the service for half a century, the commissioners, who are expected to earn up to £100,000 a year, will control police budgets, set priorities and have the power to hire and fire chief constables. | In the most radical shakeup of the service for half a century, the commissioners, who are expected to earn up to £100,000 a year, will control police budgets, set priorities and have the power to hire and fire chief constables. |
| Elections are being held in 41 police areas outside London. The Electoral Reform 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 parliament elections. | Elections are being held in 41 police areas outside London. The Electoral Reform 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 parliament elections. |
| The society's chief executive, Katie Ghose, said: "This election has been a comedy of errors from start to finish. The Home Office has operated under the assumption that 'if you build it they will come'. Democracy just doesn't work that way. | The society's chief executive, Katie Ghose, said: "This election has been a comedy of errors from start to finish. The Home Office has operated under the assumption that 'if you build it they will come'. Democracy just doesn't work that way. |
| "There have been avoidable errors at every step, and those responsible should be held to account." | "There have been avoidable errors at every step, and those responsible should be held to account." |
| Critics claim the police reforms will lead to the politicisation of the service, with commissioners championing populist measures at the expense of less headline-worthy initiatives. Although the commissioners will be there to hold the force to account, opponents fear they will attempt to interfere with day-to-day operational matters. But supporters insist they will improve accountability among police forces and make them more aware of the priorities of local demands. | Critics claim the police reforms will lead to the politicisation of the service, with commissioners championing populist measures at the expense of less headline-worthy initiatives. Although the commissioners will be there to hold the force to account, opponents fear they will attempt to interfere with day-to-day operational matters. But supporters insist they will improve accountability among police forces and make them more aware of the priorities of local demands. |
| May, the home secretary, has argued that the commissioners will become the "voice of the people" and will be "visible, accessible and accountable". | May, the home secretary, has argued that the commissioners will become the "voice of the people" and will be "visible, accessible and accountable". |
| Some 54 of the 192 candidates who stood were not linked to a political party. | Some 54 of the 192 candidates who stood were not linked to a political party. |
| The turnout in Humberside, where Lord Prescott's name on the ballot paper raised the profile of the election, was 19.48%, East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed. | The turnout in Humberside, where Lord Prescott's name on the ballot paper raised the profile of the election, was 19.48%, East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed. |
| Asked if the expected low turnout would be a disaster, the police and criminal justice minister, Damian Green, told ITV's Daybreak: "It's a new idea and as wilth all new ideas it will take some time to get going. | Asked if the expected low turnout would be a disaster, the police and criminal justice minister, Damian Green, told ITV's Daybreak: "It's a new idea and as wilth all new ideas it will take some time to get going. |
| " 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." | " 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 added: "The measure of this policy is not the turnout, it's what the police and crime commissioners achieve over the next few years." | 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 Labour MP Chuka Umunna described the elections as absurd. He told the programme: "The Independent Electoral Commission said that the way they [the elections] have been run has been a comedy of errors. | The Labour MP Chuka Umunna described the elections as absurd. He told the programme: "The Independent Electoral Commission said that the way they [the elections] have been run has been a comedy of errors. |
| "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." | "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." |
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