31.10.14
Labour wins South Yorkshire PCC election
Labour has retained the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) position with more than 50% of the vote following the by-election after Shaun Wright’s resignation from the post.
Wright resigned from the position last month in the wake of the Rotherham child abuse scandal.
He will be replaced by Dr Alan Billings, a former Barnsley teacher and vicar in Broomhall and Walkley in Sheffield and the mining community of Beighton.
For eight years up to 2012 he was a board member of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, which oversees the criminal justice system for the under 18s.
During his campaign, Dr Billings said he would bring three things to the role: independence, experience and trust.
Following the election result, he also pledged to give 50% of his salary to victim services.
The overall turnout across the region in the South Yorkshire PCC election was 14.88%. The turnout was 14.92% in 2012.
In Dr Billings’ election statement he said: “My first priority will be the victims of sexual exploitation. They need justice and support. Abusers must be prosecuted and those who failed them held to account.
“We then need a longer-term plan to build a police force people trust, always putting victims first. That means ensuring our policing – training, behaviour, culture and accountability – is improved.”
The other candidates standing for the South Yorkshire PCC position included former police inspector Jack Clarkson, for UKIP; engineer Ian Walker for the Conservatives, and foundry engineer by training David Allen for the English Democrats.
Election result:
Total number of valid first preference votes: 148,062
David Allen, English Democrats: 8,583 (5.8%)
Alan Billings, Labour: 74,060 (50.02%)
Jack Clarkson, UKIP: 46,883 (31.66%)
Ian Walker, Conservatives: 18,536 (12.52%)
Number of ballot papers rejected at first count: 2,299
(Photo: Lynne Cameron / PA)
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