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Police commissioner: Ian Johnston elected in Gwent | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Independent candidate and former police officer Ian Johnston has been elected Gwent police and crime commissioner. | |
He beat Labour's Hamish Sandison in the second round of counting, becoming the second independent winner of the four Welsh posts. | |
Mr Johnston served Gwent Police for 33 years and then as vice-president and president of the Police Superintendents' Association. | |
Gwent turnout was 14%, and one Newport polling station had no voters at all. | |
Mr Johnston will take over the police authority's role and will be able to set the police force budget and appoint the chief constable. | |
Mr Johnston received 29,748 votes in total after the second count, while Mr Sandison had 24,636. | Mr Johnston received 29,748 votes in total after the second count, while Mr Sandison had 24,636. |
Conservative Nick Webb gained 6,630 and independent Christopher Wright had 6,118. Both were eliminated after the first round of counting. | |
Mr Johnston said: "I think it says a lot for the people in Gwent. | |
'Needs of victims' | 'Needs of victims' |
"Number one I think, despite what other views people may have, the keeping politics out of policing message did have a part in the way people voted. | |
"I think the fact I'm from the county and well known in the county held sway and [also] I think my police career, despite what some people are saying about having a police officer back. | |
"I know policing and as a result of that, I will be able to ask the force hard questions and hold them to account and test them on the service they're providing to the people in Gwent." | |
Altogether, 41 PCCs are being elected in Wales and England, outside London. | |
Newport city council declined to name which of the 100 city polling station had no voters, but BBC Wales understands it was in the Bettws ward. | |
The candidates for Gwent included two former long-serving police officers standing as independents, Mr Johnston and Mr Wright. | The candidates for Gwent included two former long-serving police officers standing as independents, Mr Johnston and Mr Wright. |
Mr Johnston's commitments included reducing crime and anti-social disorder, to find solutions to local problems, place a greater focus on the needs of victims rather than offenders and ensure core policing functions continued to be carried out by police rather than the private sector. | |