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| PCC elections 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Name | PCC elections 2012 |
| Type | Police and Crime Commissioner elections |
| Date | 15 November 2012 (England and Wales) |
| Seats for election | 41 Police and Crime Commissioners |
| Turnout | 15%–20% (varied by area) |
| Previous | N/A |
| Next | 2016 PCC elections |
PCC elections 2012
The 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections established directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner offices across England and Wales, replacing police authorities and reshaping oversight of police forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater Manchester Police, and West Midlands Police. The contest involved national parties including the Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party (UK), the Liberal Democrats (UK), and minor parties like the UK Independence Party and Green Party of England and Wales, alongside independent candidates. The polls occurred amid debates involving figures such as David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Ed Miliband, and intersected with reforms associated with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and policies promoted by the Home Office and its incumbent ministers.
The elections followed passage of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, influenced by policy agendas from the Conservative Party (UK) and Liberal Democrats (UK) in the 2010–2015 coalition. The new offices were intended to increase accountability for policing previously held by entities such as the Association of Police Authorities and regional bodies like the London Assembly (which retained its own oversight of the Metropolitan Police Service). Proponents invoked accountability models associated with elected officials like Mayor of London holders and cited examples from devolved institutions including the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly—despite policing remaining separate in those jurisdictions.
Candidates stood for election under rules set by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom), using the supplementary vote system for most areas with single-member posts; the Metropolitan Police and City of London had specific arrangements. Eligibility criteria referenced legislation concerning eligibility restrictions similar to those applied in contests for offices like Members of Parliament and local posts governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983. Parties selected nominees through mechanisms used by the Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party (UK), and Liberal Democrats (UK), while independents and minor parties such as the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and English Democrats also fielded contestants. Election administration involved returning officers drawn from boroughs and county councils including Greater Manchester Combined Authority areas and coordination with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice for operational guidance.
Campaigns featured national figures and local personalities: candidates included former police officers, councillors from authorities like Liverpool City Council and Birmingham City Council, and party figures with profiles in institutions such as the House of Commons and House of Lords. High-profile endorsements and critiques arrived from politicians including Theresa May and commentators associated with outlets covering issues of crime and civil liberties. Policy debates touched on matters overseen historically by bodies such as the Crown Prosecution Service and intersected with legal frameworks like the Human Rights Act 1998 and criminal justice initiatives from the Ministry of Justice. Campaign messaging referenced high-profile incidents and policing priorities in locales like Cumbria, West Yorkshire, and Greater Manchester Police areas, and involved stakeholders such as police and crime panels and community groups linked to institutions like Victim Support.
Results produced 41 elected commissioners across the Home Counties, West Midlands, Northumbria, Dyfed-Powys, and metropolitan areas, with party gains and losses noted against expectations for Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party (UK), and independents. Turnout was widely reported as low, with many areas seeing below 20% participation, provoking comparisons to turnout patterns in elections for bodies like local councils and broader contests such as the United Kingdom general election, 2010. The pattern of results led to analytical commentary from institutions including the Institute for Public Policy Research and Policy Exchange, and parliamentary scrutiny within the House of Commons and House of Lords.
The elections attracted controversies over low participation, candidate vetting, and administration overseen by returning officers and the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom). Legal challenges referenced electoral law precedents from cases involving the High Court of Justice and raised questions about application of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 in candidate eligibility, campaign financing rules monitored under guidance used in contests governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983, and complaints handled by bodies such as the Local Government Ombudsman. Critics invoked media coverage by outlets focusing on policing scandals in places like Humberside and Greater Manchester, while proponents cited precedents for elected oversight from offices including Mayors in England.
The establishment of elected commissioners influenced subsequent policy debates in the UK Parliament and prompted legislative reviews and adjustments ahead of later elections in 2016, with parties revising selection procedures used by groups like the Labour Party (UK) and Conservative Party (UK). Commissioners interacted with criminal justice institutions including the Crown Prosecution Service and regional bodies such as the National Police Chiefs' Council, and issues from the 2012 contests informed inquiries by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom), debates in the House of Commons Justice Committee, and reforms related to police governance in later years. The model also stimulated comparative discussion with governance arrangements in the Republic of Ireland and devolved systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Category:2012 elections in the United Kingdom Category:Police and Crime Commissioner elections