Avon and Somerset Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement in the five unitary authority areas of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, all in South West England.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is the local council for the district of Bath and North East Somerset in Somerset, England.
The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four MPs representing seats wholly within the city boundaries. The overall trend of both local and national representation became left of centre during the latter 20th century. The city has a tradition of local activism, with environmental issues and sustainable transport being prominent issues in the city.
The 2012 police and crime commissioner elections were polls held in most police areas in England and Wales on Thursday 15 November. The direct election of police and crime commissioners (PCCs) was originally scheduled for May 2012 but was postponed in order to secure the passage of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 through the House of Lords. The government considers the elected commissioners to have a stronger mandate than the "unelected and invisible police authorities that they replace". The elections took place alongside by-elections for the House of Commons in Cardiff South and Penarth, Corby and Manchester Central, and a mayoral election in Bristol.
A police and crime commissioner is an elected official in England and Wales responsible for generally overseeing police forces. A police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) is an elected official in England responsible for generally overseeing both police forces and fire services. Commissioners replaced now-abolished police authorities. The first incumbents were elected on 15 November 2012.
Susan Robertson, is a British independent politician. From November 2012 to May 2021, she served as the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner. She is the first person to hold the post and was first elected on 15 November 2012, having stood as an independent candidate.
The Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Bedfordshire Police in the English County of Bedfordshire. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Bedfordshire Police Authority. The current incumbent is Festus Akinbusoye, who represents the Conservative Party. The current chief executive of the OPCC is Clare Kelly.
Clare Miranda Moody is a British politician and trade unionist who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2014 to 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she was the winning candidate in the 2024 Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election and will take up the role on 9 May.
Elections of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales were held on 5 May 2016.
Philip Stanley Seccombe is the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, representing the Conservative Party. He was first elected at the elections for police and crime commissioners held across England and Wales on 5 May 2016, with 43,208 votes. He was re-elected at the 2021 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections with 85,963 votes, winning in the first round with 52.07%. He won a third term at the 2024 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections with 45,638 votes, beating his rival candidate by 261 votes.
The Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner for the Gwent Police area. The post was first elected in November 2012 and replaced the Gwent Police Authority as part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The current commissioner is Jane Mudd, who represents the Labour Party. She is also leader of Newport City Council.
The inaugural West of England mayoral election was held on 4 May 2017 to elect the Mayor of the West of England metropolitan area. The area is made up of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Subsequent elections will be held every four years. The election was won by Conservative Tim Bowles. The overall turnout for the election was low, with only 29.7% of the electorate voting.
The 2021 West of England mayoral election was held on 6 May 2021 to elect the mayor of the West of England, on the same day as other local elections across the country. It was the second election for the role. The mayor was elected by the supplementary vote system.
Cara Kim McGuinness is a British Labour Party politician who was elected as the Mayor of the North East in May 2024. Previously, she served as the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner between 2019 and 2024.
Elections of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales were held on 6 May 2021, on the same day as the Senedd election in Wales and the local elections in England. This was the third time police and crime commissioner elections have been held. The elections were originally due to take place in May 2020 but were postponed by 12 months in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Turnout was an average of 34.1% across the elections, with Wales having much higher turnout mainly due to the simultaneous Senedd election held across Wales, whereas only parts of England had simultaneous local elections.
Angelique Foster is a British politician who was elected Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner in 2021.
Mark Grosvenor McNeill Shelford is a British Conservative politician and former lieutenant colonel in the British Army, who served as the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 until 2024.
Donna Jones is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner since 2021.
Elections for police and crime commissioners in England and Wales took place on 2 May 2024, the same day as local elections in England.
