In the last few days the Police and Crime Commissioner elections have been held, and Simon Hayes, an independent candidate, was elected into the post for Hampshire.
The election was based on a system of proportional representation, and the requirement for an outright win was for one of the candidates to get majority vote. This did not happen, so Michael Mates with 52,616 votes and Simon Hayes with 47,632 went through to the next round with the second choice votes being added in. At this point, Michael Mates, the Conservative candidate, held a 10% lead, but this was to be thoroughly wiped out as Simon Hayes held 33,037 second choice votes to Michael Mates’ 13,188.
Final count Simon Hayes 80,669 – v – Michael Mates 65,804.
Simon Hayes will formally take up office on the 22nd November and secures £85,000 a year for a 3 day a week post.
Sadly, the winning candidate was voted in by just 5% or the people of Hampshire with turnout in East Hants 19%, but as low as 11.5% in Portsmouth, Gosport. Indeed, in one part of Wales, one polling station had NO voters turn up at all. A far better plan would have been to hold these elections in the new year with the County Council elections to make the trip to the poll booth more worthwhile, and reduce the costs of holding these elections across the country, but who am I to suggest this…
Simon Hayes is the Chairman of Crimestoppers Hampshire & IOW, and has also been a past Chairman of the Hampshire Police Authority, and his website is here http://www.hayes4pcc.org/ and his first BBC interview on his new role is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20371639
Congratulations to Simon on his win, and hopefully he will make a strong supporter for Hampshire Constabulary and a good listener to the counties public.
