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| PCC elections: Watchdog to probe record low turnout | PCC elections: Watchdog to probe record low turnout |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A review is to be carried out into how the police and crime commissioners (PCC) elections were conducted, the Electoral Commission has said. | A review is to be carried out into how the police and crime commissioners (PCC) elections were conducted, the Electoral Commission has said. |
| Fewer than 15% of voters turned out in the 41 English and Welsh police areas electing a PCC, a peacetime low. | |
| Ministers said a lack of familiarity and understanding of the role may be behind the low turnout. | Ministers said a lack of familiarity and understanding of the role may be behind the low turnout. |
| The Conservatives won 16 posts and Labour 13. Twelve went to independents, including some ex-police officers. | The Conservatives won 16 posts and Labour 13. Twelve went to independents, including some ex-police officers. |
| The commissioners will be in post until 2016 and will have the power to set policing priorities, budgets and also to hire and fire chief constables. | The commissioners will be in post until 2016 and will have the power to set policing priorities, budgets and also to hire and fire chief constables. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron denied the low-number of voters means the PCC role lacks a popular mandate. | Prime Minister David Cameron denied the low-number of voters means the PCC role lacks a popular mandate. |
| He instead predicted that public interest would rise once the commissioners begin their work. | He instead predicted that public interest would rise once the commissioners begin their work. |
| 'Bad for taxpayers' | 'Bad for taxpayers' |
| The government has been accused by critics of not providing the public with enough information about the new role and the candidates, as a decision was made not to provide funding for mailshots. | The government has been accused by critics of not providing the public with enough information about the new role and the candidates, as a decision was made not to provide funding for mailshots. |
| In addition, some say holding the poll in November also affected turnout. | In addition, some say holding the poll in November also affected turnout. |
| Jenny Watson, Electoral Commission chairwoman, said the low turnout was "a concern for everyone who cares about democracy". | Jenny Watson, Electoral Commission chairwoman, said the low turnout was "a concern for everyone who cares about democracy". |
| She added: "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. | She added: "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. | "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." | "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 review board is likely to present its findings to Parliament early in the new year. | The review board is likely to present its findings to Parliament early in the new year. |
| Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said spending up to £100 million on the elections had been "bad for policing, bad for democracy and bad for taxpayers". | Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said spending up to £100 million on the elections had been "bad for policing, bad for democracy and bad for taxpayers". |
| Former Labour MP Tony Lloyd, the new PCC for Greater Manchester, said the government's handling of the elections was a "recipe for chaos". | Former Labour MP Tony Lloyd, the new PCC for Greater Manchester, said the government's handling of the elections was a "recipe for chaos". |
| Mr LLoyd told the BBC's Newsnight programme that despite concerns about the legitimacy of the new commissioners, he had a duty to fulfil the role. | Mr LLoyd told the BBC's Newsnight programme that despite concerns about the legitimacy of the new commissioners, he had a duty to fulfil the role. |
| He said: "[I] can't sit back and say I'll leave an empty chair simply because the government made a cock-up." | He said: "[I] can't sit back and say I'll leave an empty chair simply because the government made a cock-up." |
| Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron warned that commissioners would struggle to claim a mandate, as the low turn out meant some were elected by a small percentage of the total electorate. | Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron warned that commissioners would struggle to claim a mandate, as the low turn out meant some were elected by a small percentage of the total electorate. |
| But Universities Minister David Willetts said on Radio 4's Any Questions that turnout would improve over time, citing the inaugural London mayoral contest in 2000. | But Universities Minister David Willetts said on Radio 4's Any Questions that turnout would improve over time, citing the inaugural London mayoral contest in 2000. |
| "The first election to the Mayor of London had a low turnout then it gradually grew as people realised the significance of the post," he said. | "The first election to the Mayor of London had a low turnout then it gradually grew as people realised the significance of the post," he said. |
| "The challenge now is for people over the years to see what these elected commissioners can do, and then engage with them." | "The challenge now is for people over the years to see what these elected commissioners can do, and then engage with them." |
| In other election developments: | In other election developments: |
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