Conservative Matthew Barber wins Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner election

Conservative candidate Matthew Barber has been elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Thames Valley.

Mr Barber won 313,148 of the votes cast (267,404 first choice and 45,744 second preference) and was elected on the second preference poll after no candidates received more than 50 per cent of the first votes.

Labour candidate Laetisia Carter finished second with 233,446 votes (175,123 first and 58,323 second).

Mr Barber was the serving deputy PCC under former West Berkshire councillor Anthony Stansfeld, who stood down after nine years in the role.

Mr Barber is also a councillor and former leader of Vale of the White Horse District Council in Oxfordshire.

Following the election results, Mr Barber said: “I am delighted to have been elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley. I would also like to offer my thanks to Thames Valley residents for coming out and supporting my campaign, especially with the current Covid-19 restrictions in place.

“I plan to hit the ground running and deliver on my campaign promises.

“I look forward to taking office as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley on Thursday (May 13) and starting work on my key priorities for the region.”

The PCC earns £86,700 a year and is responsible for appointing and dismissing the chief constable, as well as holding them to account, setting the force budget, and publishing a police and crime plan.

Mr Barber said he had developed a clear plan to be tough on crime ensuring safer communities, including more police officers, strengthening neighbourhood policing and focussing on the crimes that matter most to residents.

Cracking down on the threat from 'county-lines' drugs gangs is also included, along with investing in the technology and resources the police need to deal with cyber crime and fraud.

Improving criminal justice to support victims of crime and tackling illegal encampments to ensure "a fair but firm response" and reducing the effect on communities also feature.

Liberal Democrat candidate John Howson and Independent Alan Robinson won 110,072 votes and 77,210 first choice votes respectively.

The turnout across the Thames Valley area was 35.90 per cent. West Berkshire's turnout for the election was 26.17 per cent.

The PCC elections took place on Thursday and the Thames Valley result was announced yesterday (Monday, May 10) at the Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury.

The elections were due to be held in May 2020 but were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Conservatives also won the PCC election for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with candidate Donna Jones officially taking office on Thursday, May 13.

Mrs Jones achieved 312,993 of the votes cast across the two counties (262,667 first preference and 50,326 second).

She said: “I would like to thank everyone who voted in these elections. I am committed to increasing the number of police on our streets and increasing police visibility in order to reduce crime. I will be looking to tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour and knife crime and helping victims to the get the justice and support they deserve.

“Whilst reducing crime is important, preventing it happening in the first place is even more so. The additional funding the government has committed to Hampshire Constabulary is an opportunity to build a police force that works for the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, from improving the 999 and 101 service to giving you feedback when you’ve reported a crime. I want to make Hampshire and Isle of Wight one the safest place to live in the country.”

Mrs Jones has been a Magistrate in Hampshire for 16 years. When she was appointed by the Lord Chancellor in October 2005, she was the youngest member of the judiciary in England and Wales.

From 2014-2018 Mrs Jones was the first woman to be elected the leader of Portsmouth City council in Hampshire, presiding over a £780 million budget.

Her professional background is in banking, and she is married with two teenage sons.

Labour candidate Tony Bunday finished second with 145,751 votes (101,832 first choice and 43,919 second).