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Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has voted Labour candidate Lord Willy Bach as the new police and crime commissioner (PCC).

After polling across the area yesterday which saw 155,682 ballot papers submitted and a 20.25% overall turnout, no majority was decided after first preference votes were counted.

After second preference votes were counted for the Labour hopeful and Tory rival Neil Bannister, Lord Bach scooped a majority of the vote and will now oversee the work of Leicestershire Constabulary for the next four years.

He will succeed ex-RAF chief Sir Clive Loader, a Conservative, who was voted Leicestershire and Rutland PCC four years ago after a 16% turnout.

After first preference votes, Lord Bach received 67,991 votes. Second placed Tory candidate Mr Bannister scooped 46,958 votes.

Lib Dem Sarah Hill received 19,359 votes and UKIP candidate David Sprason received 17,815 votes.

After second preference votes were included, Lord Bach received 78,188 votes compared to Mr Bannister's 58,305 votes and was elected.

Voter turnout in Hinckley and Bosworth was 17.69% - the second lowest of all the council areas involved.

Speaking in the run-up to the election, Lord Bach said: "Efficient use of public money is vital, but the almost 20% of central Government cuts to the Leicestershire force, including a reduction of over 400 police officers, has been too great.

"In spite of valiant efforts by all concerned, such a large drop is bound to have resulted in some significant lessening in the force’s ability to police this diverse area as it would wish.

"From the many conversations I have had, it is clear that the public senses a lesser emphasis on community and neighbourhood policing. This would be my first priority.

"Only by working closely with the community can the police give that feeling of protection and security which is at the heart of best policing.

"There is too much 'hidden crime', such as domestic violence, hate crime and cyber crime, which goes unreported, with victims receiving no redress.

"This would be a priority for me, as would anti-social behaviour, something which adversely affects so many people’s lives."

What is a PCC?

A police and crime commissioner ensures the policing needs of your community are met as effectively as possible and oversees how crime is tackled in your area.

A police and crime commissioner is elected to hold your police force to account for delivering the kind of policing you want to see.

Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure your police force is effective.

They bring a public voice to policing and do this by:

engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set police and crime plans

ensuring the police force budget is spent where it matters most

appointing, and where necessary dismissing, the chief constable

The PCC does not ‘run’ the police force. Chief constables continue to be responsible for the day to day operations of the police, but they are accountable to the public via the police and crime commissioner.