LIVE BLOG: Police commissioner election count
TORBAY fielded the second lowest number of voters in Devon and Cornwall for yesterday's police commissioner elections.
An average of just 15 per cent of people turned out to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections across Devon and Cornwall.
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Plymouth saw the lowest turnout with just 13.03% of the electorate voting.
In Torbay the figure was 13.58; in South Hams 17.05 and in Teignbridge 16 per cent.
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West Devon fielded the largest percentage with 17.46.
Follow the count and see the result first in our live coverage panel below
Ten candidates – the most of any of the 41 elections nationally – are fighting for the £85,000-a-year post in Devon and Cornwall.
The victor, who will be announced this evening, will control key issues such as the police budget, overall strategy, and hold senior officers to account.
Despite being billed as the biggest change to policing for 50 years and bringing an unprecedented level of accountability to local policing, concerns have repeatedly been raised about the lack of public interest in the ballot.
The Government refused to pay for candidate leaflets to be delivered to households, as is normal in General Elections.
Numerous warnings have been issued about turnout with critics of the elections saying it would undermine new commissioners' mandate.
The Electoral Reform Society, which said fewer than one in five voters could turn out, described the situation as "a perfect storm, which could result in the lowest turnout for a national election in British history".
Votes were last night being verified at centres across the two counties before being moved to the count at Carn Brea, in West Cornwall.
Counting will start at 11am with the winner due to be announced at 8pm.
Comments
by grumpytoo
Saturday, November 17 2012, 4:36PM
“I have no idea why a political element should have been introduced into this in the 1st place, what was the advantage or need. Surely it should have been the most suitable or qualified person for the job.But was it really necessary, why do we had a Chief Constable. To many tiers of management these days!”
by nicold
Saturday, November 17 2012, 12:55PM
“Well Grumpytoo, could the fact that the government were not paying money towards leafleting as they usually do, have something to do with us not knowing about these candidates?
I imagine if one of them had dug into their pockets, or as you say campaign, any one of those candidates would be £60,000 richer and in a comfy (probably second) job?
As it is, we are stuck with a Conservative, who will no doubt push his political agenda!”
by grumpytoo
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:04PM
“I didn't vote,I had no intention of doing so. I wasn't prepared to vote someone to a £60-£100,000k job when I had no idea of whom they were or of their qualification or their suitability . Having no info through the post or seen the candidates at a meeting,I shouldn't have to rely on getting the info through the internet. If these candidates were genuine in their wanting to take on the post then they should have been out campaigning,letterboxing, hand shaking. The turnout has been so low that you can hardly say that it is a democratic. I had a postal vote but a neighbour telephoned to say that she had never received a card telling her where she could vote. How could this farce cost a £100,000 million, something doesn't ring right here!”
by Bleach
Friday, November 16 2012, 1:16PM
“I want to know why the local press barely reported on any of this. They're prepared to make a big deal out of a bloody palm tree in the middle of a roundabout but when it comes to something really important, virtual silence. You could at least have interviewed them a bit. How the hell else are the electorate supposed to get a clue about what they're voting for?”