Barber for PCC

MORE THAN 30,000 ballots were rejected in the Thames Valley police and crime commissioner election.

In the count, which saw former deputy PCC Matthew Barber elected, there were 16,011 ballots rejected at the first-round stage. Of these, 7,533 were unmarked, 3,165 were void and 5,234 saw people vote for more than one candidate.

In the second round, 15,388 didn’t have a second preference, and 173 made more than one vote.

The combined figure, of 31,761, was nearly half that of fourth placed candidate, independent Alan Robinson. The former police officer polled 77,210 votes.

In third place, with 110,072 votes, was Liberal Democrat John Howson.

They were both eliminated from the contest, and their votes redistributed among the first and second preference choices, Labour’s Laetisia

Carter (175,123 first round votes) and Mr Barber’s 267,404. The Conservative candidate picked up 45,744 votes in the second round, giving him a total of 313,148 votes, while Ms Carter had 58,323 votes, taking her to 233,446.

Mr Barber said: “I am delighted to have been elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley”.

His priorities include fighting organised crime, cybercrime and fraud, and tackling illegal encampments.

For more details, www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk