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.
Martyn Underhill is a British independent politician and former police officer who served as the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 to 2021.
Angus Stuart Macpherson served as the Conservative Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 to 2021. He was the first holder of the post.
Ronald William Ball is a former Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), and the first person to hold the post. At the time of his election he was the only independent PCC not to have a background in policing. After a four-decade long career in aviation as an airline pilot on both commercial and cargo flights he was elected to the newly created office of Police and Crime Commissioner on 15 November 2012. One of his first acts in the post was to endorse an alliance with a neighbouring police force aimed at pooling resources and reducing overall costs. Although his role was a non-operational one, he requested a review of a police investigation into a motoring accident that left several people injured, citing public concerns over the incident. After it emerged that police officers who held a meeting with former Conservative Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell following his involvement in the Plebgate affair had not given a proper account of their conversation, Ball became caught up in the affair after criticising the findings of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which recommended the officers be disciplined. Ball did not contest the 2016 election for the post, and was succeeded by Philip Seccombe of the Conservative Party.
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.
Ann Christine Barnes was the first Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. She was previously the Chairman of Kent Police Authority for six years and Deputy Chair of the National Association of Police Authorities for three years.
Anthony Hamer Rennie Stansfeld is a British Conservative Party politician who was the first Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (2012–21).
The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Avon and Somerset Police in the English unitary authorities of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Somerset. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Avon and Somerset Police Authority. Mark Shelford was elected to the role in the May 2021 election.
The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner of the South Yorkshire Police in South Yorkshire.
The Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Sussex Police in the English County of Sussex. The post was created on 21 November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Sussex Police Authority. The current commissioner is Conservative Party politician Katy Bourne, who was re-elected in May 2016. The police and crime commissioner is required to produce a strategic Sussex Police and Crime Plan, setting out the priorities for Sussex Police, and their work is scrutinised by the Sussex Police and Crime Panel.
Elections of police and crime commissioners in England and Wales were held on 5 May 2016.
The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Essex Police in the English County of Essex. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Essex Police Authority. The incumbent is Roger Hirst, who represents the Conservative Party.
The Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Leicestershire Police in the English counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Leicestershire Police Authority. The current incumbent is Rupert Matthews, who represents the Conservative Party.
The Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Nottinghamshire Police in the English County of Nottinghamshire.
The West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner (PCC), an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by West Mercia Police in the English counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the West Mercia Police Authority. The current incumbent is John Campion, who represents the Conservative Party.
The Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner is the police and crime commissioner, an elected official tasked with setting out the way crime is tackled by Wiltshire Police in the English county of Wiltshire. The post was created in November 2012, following an election held on 15 November 2012, and replaced the Wiltshire Police Authority. The incumbent until May 2021 was Angus Macpherson, a Conservative Party candidate.
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.
Emily Elizabeth Spurrell is a British Labour Party politician who was elected as the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in May 2021. She was previously a Liverpool City councillor for Mossley Hill and the deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside.
Matthew David Barber is a British politician. He is currently Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner. He previously served as Leader of the Council on Vale of White Horse District Council and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley Police.
