Tim Passmore continues as Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner after securing the 2021 election with his biggest victory.

Mr Passmore, Conservative, secured 54.7% of the vote in first preference ballots with 112,139. Labour's Elizabeth Hughes was second with 47,159 votes - 23% of the vote.

The Greens came home third with 13.6% of the vote - 27,965 ballots, and James Sandbach for the Liberal Democrats won 17,801 votes, or 8.7%.

Thetford & Brandon Times: The POlice and Crime Commissioner election results count at Waterlane Leisure Centre in LowestoftThe POlice and Crime Commissioner election results count at Waterlane Leisure Centre in Lowestoft (Image: Archant)

The PCC elections do not run on a first past the post system, with voters selecting a first and second choice. Second choice votes are only needed if a candidate doesn't secure more than half of the votes with first choice ballots. However Mr Passmore secured enough votes on first ballots for second choice not to be needed - the first time this has happened since the role was first formed in 2012.

Mr Passmore said: "I am absolutely delighted and I actually feel quite humbled. To be elected for a third time is really something that is very very special to me, and there is a lot to look up to.

"People have given me that trust, a big mandate which I am delighted for, so I have got to make sure that we work very hard to live up to the expectations and the trust that people all over Suffolk have placed in me."

Mr Passmore outlined his immediate priorities for the role, which included tackling big issues in the county alongside Covid-19 pandemic recovery efforts. A new Police and Crime Plan is to be published early on in the new term to encompass those efforts.

Thetford & Brandon Times: Tim Passmore, Conservative, won the 2021 Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner electionTim Passmore, Conservative, won the 2021 Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner election (Image: Archant)

"The police do have a role to play in supporting the economy as it recovers to keep crime down," he said.

"We need to do much more on visibility, improving engagement and communication but we also need to get the message out to the public that the pattern of crime is changing. So much more now is being done online - the hidden harm as it's called - it's really critical the constabulary has the resources to bring these people to justice."

Other key measures Mr Passmore said he will be addressing are the uptick in domestic abuse reports during the pandemic, and supporting young people out of county lines drug gangs.

Thetford & Brandon Times: The Suffolk PCC election count in Waterlane Leisure Centre, LowestoftThe Suffolk PCC election count in Waterlane Leisure Centre, Lowestoft (Image: Jason Noble LDRS)


The final results are:

Tim Passmore (Conservative): 112,139 (54.7%)

Elizabeth Hughes (Labour): 47,159 (23%)

Andy Patmore (Green): 27,965 (13.6%)

James Sandbach (Liberal Democrats): 17,801 (8.7%)

Turnout: 36.8%

Conservative hold.