CONSERVATIVE candidate John Campion has been elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia.

Mr Campion’s campaign focused on improved police response times, establishing a new Victim’s Charter, protecting neighbourhood policing, and ensuring best possible value for public money.

He won with a total of 83,619 votes after both rounds of voting, with Labour candidate Daniel Walton coming second with 55,162 votes after the second round.

Following the result on Friday, Mr Campion said: “I am very grateful to the people of West Mercia for putting their faith in me, and sharing my vision for the sort of West Mercia we all want to be a part of.

"It is a great honour to be elected as the next PCC, and you have my word that I will continue to work tirelessly for the people over the next four years.

“We are fortunate to live in a safe part of the world, but I want to build on that and make people feel even safer.

"I am confident that with the right ideas and resources we can deliver the more effective, more efficient results that people want to see.

"I will certainly make sure that I am speaking and listening to people to best understand what needs to be done.”

Appointing a Deputy Commissioner will be one of his first tasks and he has issued assurances this will be an open and transparent process.

A total of 198,892 people turned out to vote – approximately 21% of the electorate.

In Herefordshire, 23,124 people voted.

“I would also like to thank the outgoing Commissioner Bill Longmore for his service," he added.