Elections 2021: John Campion wins second term as West Mercia PCC

John Campion was first elected as West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner in 2016

John Campion has been re-elected as West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

First elected to the role in 2016, the Conservative candidate received 179,411 votes or 55% of votes cast ahead of Labour's Kuldip Sahota with 77,664 votes.

The election was decided on first preferences as Mr Campion secured more than 50% of the vote.

Mr Campion said the number of votes was a "ringing endorsement" of his work.

PCCs are elected to oversee the work of their local police force.

Speaking after the result, Mr Campion said his early priority would be supporting communities as they emerged from the Covid lockdown.

He said he would also use his second term to press ahead with plans to transfer control of fire services in his area to the PCC.

The proposal has faced opposition from Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester fire authorities but Mr Campion said he believed it was the right thing to do.

"It would mean potentially another £40m saved over the next 10 years that could be reinvested into front-line emergency services," he added.

Labour's Kuldip Sahota said he felt the final result "was never in any doubt, right from the start"

Mr Sahota thanked people who voted for him and admitted "I feel the result was never in any doubt, right from the start".

The PCC elections were originally meant to take place in May 2020, with the winner to serve a four-year term, but was postponed due to the pandemic.

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Turnout this time round rose from 20.7 % in 2016 to 33.9%.

Also standing were Reform UK's Peter Jewell and Margaret Rowley for the Liberal Democrats.

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