Elections 2021: Dr Alan Billings retains South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner role

Dr Alan Billings has held the role since 2014

Labour's Dr Alan Billings is to continue as South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for a third term.

Dr Billings received 165,442 first preference votes, beating Conservative candidate David Chinchen, who gained 98,851 votes.

The former parish priest and academic has held the role since 2014.

Dr Billings said South Yorkshire Police had improved under him and he wanted to continue to "beat down crime".

He vowed to prioritise anti-social behaviour, organised crime, illegal biking, fly-tipping and road safety over the next three years.

Labour lost their PCCs to the Conservatives in neighbouring Humberside, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with Dr Billings bucking the trend in South Yorkshire.

He said it was "truly astonishing" to see the size of his victory, considering what had happened elsewhere.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This is the best result I've had as a Police and Crime Commissioner, so it does show that the Labour Party, when it puts its mind toward it, can win votes here in South Yorkshire."

The responsibilities of the PCC include setting South Yorkshire Police's priorities and overseeing its budget.

• More stories from across Yorkshire

In his acceptance speech, Dr Billings said the force had "poor morale" when he took over the role in 2014 following the resignation of Shaun Wright amid the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

He added: "The priorities I had for South Yorkshire Police were that they would protect vulnerable people, they would tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and they would treat people fairly. That's what I hold them to account against."

Dr Billings increased his majority, winning 54% of the vote, an increase from just over 50% in 2014.

Liberal Democrat candidate Joe Otten received 42,462 votes.

The delayed elections took place on Thursday after being postponed since May 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.