John Campion has been re-elected police and crime commissioner for West Mercia, which includes Herefordshire, with a reduced majority on a low turnout.

Following the result of yesterday's, announced at the Tennis Centre in Telford & Wrekin, the Conservative candidate said: “I would like to thank communities across the three counties who have once again put their trust in me to deliver a safer West Mercia.

“I am proud of what I have achieved as your PCC over the last eight years, but I know there’s much more that needs to be done.”

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The result in full was:

  • John-Paul Campion (Conservative): 73,395 votes (34.3 per cent)
  • Richard Overton (Labour and Cooperative): 63,082
  • Sarah Murray (Liberal Democrat): 33,782
  • Julian Dean (Green): 22,021
  • Henry Curteis (English Democrats): 21,645.

The turnout was 21.7 per cent, down over a third on the previous West Mercia PCC election of 2021, when Mr Campion took 55.3 per cent of votes.

He must now produce a new Police and Crime Plan setting out strategic aims and priorities for his four-year term in office.

The PCC role includes holding the Chief Constable to account, providing a strong voice for the public, commissioning services for victims of crime, ensuring local priorities are joined up between partners and determining how an annual budget of over £200m is spent.