PCC vote 'will not have free mail-shot on candidates'

Voters will not be sent impartial information about candidates for next year's police and crime commissioner elections, the BBC understands.

The Cabinet Office is understood to have ruled out sending free mail-shots to households - despite criticism about the low turn-out for the 2012 poll.

About 15.1% of electors voted, with the government blaming a lack of understanding of the role of PCCs.

The Electoral Commission said it was "vital" voters knew who was standing.

The 2012 poll saw the lowest non-local government electoral turnout since World War Two.

'Informed choice'

The PCC elections will take place in 41 areas in England and Wales on 5 May next year - the same day as elections for 126 English local authorities, the National Assembly for Wales and mayoral elections in cities, including in London.

Candidate information for the local and mayoral elections will be sent free of charge to each household.

However, the BBC understands the information will not be sent out for the PCC poll.

An Electoral Commission spokesperson criticised the decision, saying a candidate information booklet should be sent to voters in advance of the election.

"It's vital that voters know who is standing for election so that they can make an informed choice on polling day," the spokesman said.

'Can't afford to compete'

Kevin Hurley, Independent PCC for Surrey, who is standing for re-election next year, said the main political parties would be the beneficiaries if voters were not informed who the candidates were.

"Independents with real life experience can't afford to compete," he said.

"With no publicity support for independents, your choice will be simple: Conservative or Labour."

After the last PCC elections, the Electoral Commission said it was a "mistake" not to distribute a booklet with details of candidates, the cost of which was estimated to be £30m.

A website with details of those standing was made available, but research conducted by the Electoral Commission suggested only one in five people knew enough about the candidates to make an informed decision about who to vote for.

It said improved delivery of candidate information "would address the unacceptably low levels of information/awareness".