Winners in Midlands police commissioners poll are named
The first ever police and crime commissioners at Midlands forces have been announced, as an inquiry was launched into low voter turnout.
Labour's Bob Jones was elected into the £100,000-a-year job in the West Midlands, with Tory Matthew Ellis being elected in Staffordshire.
Meanwhile, in the West Mercia police force area, independent candidate Bill Longmore landed the role.
But in what is being labelled as the worst election turnout ever, it has emerged that many polling stations went unused during Thursday's vote.
A portable office in Baggeridge Country Park was set up for 269 people in the Gospel End ward of South Staffordshire to vote, but just 24 people used it. It cost around £1,500 to set up.
One polling station on Weston Road, Stafford, had just six voters out of an electorate of 600.
In the West Midlands, 12.31 per cent of people voted, in Staffordshire 11.97 per cent and West Mercia 14.5 per cent.
Voting watchdog the Electoral Commission has launched a "thorough review" into what went wrong.
See also:
West Midlands police commissioner to axe private business plan
Staffordshire police commissioner pledges to make county officers more visible
West Mercia police poll success for former superintendent
