VIDEO: Alan Hardwick elected as Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Independent candidate, Alan Hardwick has won the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner election after a second preference count.
Alan Hardwick received a total of 39,221 votes after the second count, defeating fellow independent, David Bowles who received 35,086 votes.
After the result, Alan Hardwick confirmed that the Nettleham custody suite 'won't happen'.
He said: "I'm feeling that it has all been worth while and that I have demonstrated the people of Lincolnshire have no appetite for politicising the role of Police Commissioner.
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"Nettleham won't happen. That is it, it is my decision as commissioner and it won't happen.
"I plan to make this not an office based job but reaching into all corners of the county, there will be no north south divide or urban or rural divide in Lincolnshire.
"I can promise you I will work with the Chief Constable to ensure the safety and security of all the people in Lincolnshire."
Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, Neil Rhodes said: "Alan Hardwick has made it clear that his objective is to provide the best possible policing service to the county.
"He is committed to maintaining a strong frontline of uniformed police officers on our streets, we share these objectives whole heartedly."
The results of the first preference count saw independent David Bowles in the lead with 27,345 votes, followed by fellow independent Alan Hardwick with 26,272 votes.
Conservative Richard Davies won 19,872 votes and Paul Gleeson, Labour, 10,247 votes. Both were eliminated from the contest.
For the second preference count, the 30,219 votes for the two losers were recounted, looking for second preference votes, and then added to the two contenders left from the first round.
All district turnout figures were confirmed earlier, with Lincolnshire's overall turnout at 15.63%, with the time of year, the weather and poor marketing speculated as reasons for a lack of interest nationally.
Jenny Watson, chair of the electoral commission, said: "The low turnout is a concern for everyone who cares about democracy."
The £60,000 per year role will replace the current Police Authority.
The Police and Crime Commissioner will have powers to set strategy and control budgets as well as to hire and fire the chief constables.
See how events unfolded by looking back over the live blog below with reaction on Twitter via thisislincs
Comments
by Mr_Sneer
Sunday, November 18 2012, 8:48PM
“"Oh dear, this will mean that Nettleham house prices remain over-inflated"
Unlike the rest of the country, then. Oh, wait...”
by Pete67
Sunday, November 18 2012, 5:10PM
“Lincoln_Fan - So all the MPs who don't bother to go to the chamber or abstain are they guilty of apathy. Also don't forget the Government is always telling people to go green, and there are thousands of people who would be going to vote who could not do so without having to use transport (like public transport, a taxi or a car which would use many gallons of petrol or diesel). Not to mention the amount of extra pencils that would have to be replaced due to wear (paper and graphite). Would that be green?”
by Lincoln_Fan
Sunday, November 18 2012, 4:12PM
“For all those who actively chose to not vote your actions WILL be considered one of apathy. If you don't support any candidate or the system at least spoil your paper with that message.”
by adamcayhall
Sunday, November 18 2012, 9:48AM
“I see the first thing Mr Hardwick came out and said was 'the Nettleham project will not happen'
Oh dear, this will mean that Nettleham house prices remain over-inflated”
by Pete67
Sunday, November 18 2012, 9:01AM
“OldLincolnia - If this was democracy they'd have found out first if people wanted an extra layer of overpaid management while the workers (constables), get less and less. More constables on the beat would do more good than someone sat in an office deciding what the constables should do.”
by OldLincolnia
Saturday, November 17 2012, 6:26PM
“Cant be bothered to vote, then you wont be bothered to moan will you?
Would have preferred Bowles, but this is a Democracy and I accept it.”
by Whiley45
Saturday, November 17 2012, 9:12AM
“One hundred million spent on this farce when that money could have better been spent on more Police Officers. I am exhausted saying it but now here is the News. Over to Alan Hardwick in his plush office for an update!”
by Pete67
Saturday, November 17 2012, 9:06AM
“I may be getting downs, but at least I did think about voting. I came to the conclusion it would be like a turkey voting for Christmas (just another tier of management to pay for). I think a lot though didn't vote just because they couldn't be bothered.”
by moonferret
Saturday, November 17 2012, 12:32AM
“It was very predictable that he would win. We have to remember that only about 15% voted, so a very small minority. A good number of this minority would regard him as a familiar "friendly face" they were used to seeing on the TV and maybe something of a "celebrity" against relative unknowns. People tend to go with what they "know". It was a foregone conclusion really. I didn't vote and can't fathom why anyone would.”
by mrcgeorgiades
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:48PM
“Commissioner Alan Hardwick,
You had my vote. Well done!
"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. The beginning is the most important part of the work" - Plato”