‘Bluewash’ in police commissioner race
THE Conservatives claimed victory in the election for Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner, a civilian post that oversees the county’s police force.
It means Derbyshire now has women in the top two policing roles – the chief constable and police and crime commissioner.
Conservative Angelique Foster earned 149,749 votes, with Labour’s Hardyal Dhindsa receiving 117,564. Mr Dhindsa, who was elected PCC in 2016, had earlier retained his Normanton ward seat during Derby City Council’s elections.
Liberal Democrat Stan Heptinstall and Reform UK’s Timothy Prosser were eliminated in the first round of votes.
After the first round, Ms Foster led with 137,884 votes, with Mr Dhindsa on 104,700. As neither had received more than 50% of the votes, the two lowest-polling candidates were eliminated and second preference ballots counted. The turnout was 35.74 per cent, up from 2016. Derbyshire County Council’s leader, Barry Lewis, congratulated the winner on Twitter. He wrote: “It’s a total Blue Wash! We have a
Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner for #Derbyshire. Well done @CllrAngelique.”
Derbyshire Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: “I look forward to working with Angelique.
“The PCC’s role of governance, scrutiny, budget setting, and working with partners and local communities is crucial and I know that this is important to Ms Foster.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hardyal Dhindsa for his dedication to the role. He has shown passion and dedication to the role and has worked tirelessly with the force and partners to help reduce crime in the county and make Derbyshire a safe place to work, live and visit.”