Northamptonshire PCC Adam Simmonds to stand down in 2016

PCC Adam Simmonds was elected in May 2012

A police and crime commissioner under investigation by a regulatory body has announced he will not stand for re-election in 2016.

Northamptonshire PCC Adam Simmonds is accused of disclosing "sensitive" information to third parties in 2013.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said its inquiry is ongoing. A spokesman for Mr Simmonds said it was not his reason for not standing.

Mr Simmonds, 38, is believed to be the youngest PCC in England.

The IPCC investigation began in March, with Mr Simmonds receiving an apology for finding out about the inquiry from his press team.

'He is ambitious'

He said at the time: "I hope before too long everything will be made clear. Until there is more to say, I will make no further comment."

Steve Walsh, a spokesman for Mr Simmonds, said "It's not something he has taken into account when coming to his decision.

"He is ambitious and would like to move on to other roles, but he does not have any lined up."

Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton, Conservative Mr Simmonds said: "I have spent four years on a huge range of projects which I am very proud of and they will culminate in May

"I've come to the end of my term and I'm looking forward to doing new things."

He added: "I'm not running away from the challenge, but I think the next period probably needs a new kind of person."

He claimed he was the only PCC to have put more warranted police officers on the streets during his time in office, with 1,220 frontline officers and 900 special constables to be in place by May 2016.

"Communities will soon start to feel the benefit of having their own special constable and for me this is one of the most exciting legacies of my time - putting citizens back into the heart of policing."

In 2013, the Police Federation questioned the cost of Mr Simmonds' 17-strong office, which had spent £1m compared with the old police authority's final-year cost of £865,000.

The office later announced two members of staff were stepping down and would not be replaced, saving £114,000.