Tory wins third term as PCC by just 261 votes

Philip Seccombe has been Warwickshire police and crime commissioner since 2016

Conservative Philip Seccombe has very narrowly been re-elected for a third term as Warwickshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) by just 261 votes.

Mr Seccombe received 45,638 votes, while Labour candidate Sarah Feeney came just behind with 45,377. Liberal Democrat Richard Dickson came third with 24,867 votes.

The win is in stark contrast to 2021 when he had a majority of over 40,000 - winning with 85,963 votes, ahead of 45,768 for Labour's Ben Twomey.

Mr Seccombe was first elected as the PCC in 2016.

He said he felt relieved after a “very close” race, but added the low turnout was “disappointing for all political parties”.

He said the national mood was a factor in his reduced majority.

“Our party has been through a bad couple of nights,” he added, but said the PCC campaign had “been fought mainly on local issues by the three candidates”.

Mr Seccombe said his victory would give Tory MPs in the county “some encouragement that we can win in Warwickshire”.

He took over from independent Ron Ball, who did not stand for re-election after becoming the area's first police and crime commissioner in 2012.

Mr Seccombe said his key priorities were to maximise the number of police officers serving the county and to ensure victims and witnesses are at the heart of the criminal justice system.

He is a chartered surveyor, and previously served as a councillor on Stratford-on-Avon District Council between 2002 and 2017.

He also served with the Territorial Army (now Army Reserve) for 25 years, commanding his regiment and reaching the rank of colonel.

He has also been chairman of the West Midlands Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association and chairman of the Warwickshire Army Benevolent Fund.