Labour wins back Lancashire PCC role from Tories

Clive Grunshaw served as Lancashire police and crime commissioner for nine years until 2021

The Labour candidate for Lancashire's police and crime commissioner post has won his old job back from the Conservatives with a 34,357 majority.

Clive Grunshaw had held the role from its creation in 2012 until 2021, when he was defeated by Conservative candidate Andrew Snowden.

But Mr Grunshaw is back after being elected with 135,638 votes to Mr Snowden's 101,281, on a 26.22% turnout.

Liberal Democrat candidate Neil Darby came third with 51,252 votes, while 9,534 ballots were spoiled.

'Zero-tolerance'

After the results were declared, Mr Grunshaw thanked the Lancashire public and said: "I will do everything I can to repay that trust."

He made a promise to tackle the "epidemic" of shoplifting and to focus on "nipping low-level crime in the bud".

"We need to have a zero tolerance approach and give the people of Lancashire the policing they deserve," he added.

Posting on X, Mr Snowden thanked his supporters but said "today wasn't our day".

"I am proud of my record as commissioner, but could not have done it without the work of so many amazing officers and staff in the constabulary, whose bravery and service is inspiring", he wrote.

In a debate ahead of the election, hosted by BBC Lancashire, Mr Grunshaw said "more bobbies on the beat" and "more visibility" was the solution to rid communities of anti-social behaviour.