Blue brigade of police tsars marching in

THE Tories last night looked set to hammer Labour in elections for Police and Crime Commissioners, with early results showing a raft of Conservative victories in Opposition heartlands.

At least 20 PCC results were announced out of a total of 39, with 16 victories for Tory candidates against four for Labour. It was the third election for PCCs since the positions were created in 2011.

Tory candidate Angelique Foster won the formerly safe PCC post in Derbyshire from Labour, with a commanding majority of more than 32,000 votes.

In neighbouring Leicestershire, Tory Rupert Matthews became PCC after winning 135,566 votes to the 102,211 for Ross Wilmot, who stood for Labour after Lord Willy Bach stepped down having served a single term.

In Nottinghamshire, Tory Carol i ne Henry became PCC after toppling Labour incumbent Paddy Tipping, a former MP and deputy leader of the Commons. Ms Henry gai ned 138, 658 votes against 131,302 for Mr Tipping.

Similar wins followed i n the Humber, another traditional Labour PCC stronghold. Tory candidate Jonathan Evison, the current mayor of North Lincolnshire, defeated Labour incumbent Keith Hunter by almost 4,000 votes.

Labour retained the post in Merseyside, with Emily Spurrell beating her Tory rival with 57 per cent of the vote.

Labour also retained the West Midlands and Northumbria posts.

Other Conservative wins included the Avon and Somerset PCC, with Mark Shelford, a former Army officer, beating his Labour rival, Kerry Barker.

It is seen as significant because Bristol, the region’s largest city, was recently the scene of fierce clashes between police and ‘Kill the

Bill’ demonstrators, protesting against the Police, Crime, Sentencing And Courts Bill.

Police and Crime Commissioners were introduced to replace local police authorities.

Their role is to appoint chief constables, as well as determine forces’ budgets and priorities.

Some cities, however, such as London and Manchester, do not have Police and Crime Commissioners as elected mayors include the role in their responsibilities.