Philip Wilkinson holds Wiltshire PCC position

Philip Wilkinson has been in the role since 2021

Conservative Philip Wilkinson has been re-elected as Wiltshire's Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Mr Wilkinson won with 38,578 votes, with Stanka Adamcova, standing as the Labour and Co-operative Party candidate, coming a close second in the election with 36,345.

The other candidates in the election - which took place on Thursday - were Alan Hagger for the Liberal Democrats and independent Mike Rees.

Turnout in Wiltshire was 22.72%, which was higher than the last PCC election in 2021.

Stanka Adamcova (second from right) came second

Mr Rees - who was second in 2021 - received 29,035 votes and Mr Hagger got 20,485 votes.

Mr Wilkinson, who has a military background, having served in the Royal Artillery, the Commando and Parachute Brigades and the Special Forces, for which he was awarded an OBE, said the turnout was disappointing.

However, he said he was "delighted because it allows me to continue the upward trajectory the Chief Constable [Catherine Roper] and I have been pushing in terms of making Wiltshire Police the force they want it to be and the residents of Wiltshire want them to be".

"We're halfway there and we know where we want to go and this is an opportunity for me to continue on that journey with her," he added.

The count for the election happened at County Hall in Trowbridge

The force was put into special measures shortly after Mr Wilkinson was first elected in 2021.

He said "When I took over, the extent of the challenge was a little daunting.

"The fact we are making progress, the fact that morale of the frontline officers is improving, as the performance is improving is very satisfying.

"I am confident we have made progress that we will be out of special measures very soon."

Stanka Adamcova was the Labour candidate, coming in second

Labour candidate Stanka Adamcova - who was only about 2,000 votes behind Mr Wilkinson - said she was "truly humbled by the result".

"I think the results are sending a clear message, people are demanding change."

The main role of the PCC is to ensure that Wiltshire Police is doing its job properly by serving the public and overseeing the strategic direction of the force through the Police and Crime Plan.

It is also the PCC's job to set the police budget and to decide how much money the public should contribute to policing through council tax.