The new Police and Crime Commissioners elected in Wales

Wales' four Police and Crime Commissioners happen to be elected.

The outcome was announced on Sunday afternoon as the last from the counting came to an end after Thursday's elections.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections use the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters mark around the ballot paper their first choice and may – when they wish – mark around the ballot paper their second choice too.

If a candidate receives over fifty percent of all the first choice votes, they're elected immediately.

Their job would be to contain the chief constable to account and maintain effective and efficient police service.

As a part of their role, with a salary of as much as 86,000, they have to also set the force budget and see the precept, set the police and crime objectives for his or her area, commission victim support services and become held responsible for local fire and rescue services.

Here would be the PCCs for every area in Wales:

South Wales

Alun Michael continues to be re-elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for the South Wales area. He's an income of 86,700.

The Labour candidate became the first Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales in November 2012, and was re-elected for any second term in 2021.

He was re-elected on Sunday after standing against five other candidates.

First round:

• Alun Michael (Labour): 177,110 – 41%

• Steve Gallagher (Conservative): 102,465 – 23.7%

• Nadine Marshall (Plaid Cymru): 82,246 – 19%

• Mike Baker (Independent): 37,110 – 8.6%

• Callum Littlemore (Liberal Democrats): 19,907 – 4.6%

• Gail John (Propel): 13,263 – 3%

Second round:

• Alun Michael (Labour): 48,353

• Steve Gallagher (Conservative): 25,379

In total the Labour politician received 225,463 votes and a most of 97,619.

He said: "I take seriously the responsibilities the voters have put on my shoulders, in continuing to deliver and enhance the effectiveness of policing and also the protection against harm across south Wales."

A former newspaper reporter, trade unionist, councillor and magistrate, Mr Michael was elected to Parliament in 1987. He resigned as an MP to stand for election because the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales.

Mr Michael added: "I am pleased to have had the support of the electorate across South Wales and to happen to be re-elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for the third time. A good deal has been achieved through some very difficult years for policing however i am very keen for us to build on the firm foundations we have set up, and I will be saying more shortly about my plans and ambitions for the following three years.

“While yesteryear Twelve months happen to be immensely difficult for everyone, we have worked with partners in Welsh Government and Local Government to help keep the people of South Wales safe and also the close joint working has brought about some very positive developments as has the cooperation between all parts of the Criminal Justice System in Wales so I wish to thank the general public, the members of my own team and also to the main Constable, Jeremy Vaughan, and officers and staff across South Wales Police.

"Together we must now face challenge of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic while at the same time spending so much time to lessen and prevent crime in our communities and cope with new and emerging demands with an effect on policing. I relish the task and now that the election is over I'll work with the main Constable to pursue our shared ambition of giving the communities of South Wales the perfect police service. We'll pursue that aim, combined with the purpose of preventing harm, by working with our partners, always achieving more together than we are able to achieve alone."

Gwent

Labour's Jeff Cuthbert has been re-elected for a second term as Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner. He's an income of 71,400.

Mr Cuthbert's win was announced following the count for second preference results, after no candidate had a majority in the first round.

Among first preference votes, Mr Cuthbert received 75,775 – or 41.7%. While it was a lot more than 20,000 ahead of second place Hannah Jarvis from the Conservative Party, it had been a lot more than eight per cent shy from the Half have to win re-election.

First round:

• Donna Cushing (Plaid Cymru): 29,392
• Jeff Cuthbert (Labour and Co-operative Party): 75,775
• Paul Harley (Independent): 13,601
• Hannah Jarvis (Conservative Party): 52,313
• Clayton Jones (Gwlad – The Welsh Independence Party): 2,615
• John Miller – Liberal Democrats: (7,640)

Second round:

• Jeff Cuthbert (Labour and Co-operative Party):16,841
• Hannah Jarvis (Welsh Conservative Party): 8,223

After the 2nd preference count, Mr Cuthbert was elected with 92,616 votes, while Ms Jarvis had 60,536.

Mr Cuthbert, as Gwent's PCC, accounts for holding Gwent Police to account on behalf of the five local authority areas – Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and Caerphilly.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after his re-election, Mr Cuthbert said: "It's been a significant tough fight but I'm very glad, very proud to be re-elected."

Mr Cuthbert said the campaign have been "difficult" because of Covid restrictions and it had "greatly been an online campaign".

He emphasised the importance of the budget and said it was "something we're looking at very seriously indeed."

He said: "If I don't ensure that the chief constable has enough money for operational purposes then we've had a problem."

Mr Cuthbert said he was "here to serve everyone in Gwent which will continue".

Mr Cuthbert was first elected as PCC for Gwent in May 2021, and before was was the Assembly Member for Caerphilly from 2003 until 2021.

Asked about his priorities as PCC if re-elected, he had said: "If re-elected I intend to continue my try to make Gwent a safe place to live and work. Gwent has a low level of crime already there is however always more work to do.

"I want to continue to employ more cops. There exists a recruitment programme already in position to build officer numbers back up following years of cuts by the Conservative UK Government since 2010.

"Protecting the most vulnerable, including victims of domestic abuse and violent crime, remains a major priority.

"Considering that an effective police is one that presides over a low-level of crime, I will continue to invest in crime prevention and reduction measures. Including safer communities and that i welcome Welsh Labour's pledge to increase their funding for Police Community Support Officers from 500 to 600 PCSOs if Labour forms the next Welsh Labour Government. This funding is under direct threat from the Welsh Tories if they're elected.

"Partnership working with other key public services such as health and municipality, included in the “one public service approach” in Wales, reaps many benefits and will continue if I'm re-elected."

Dyfed Powys

The returning Police and Crime Commissioner for that Dyfed Powys area is Dafydd Llywelyn, of Plaid Cymru. He has an income of 66,300.

He was re-elected after standing against three other candidates: Jon Burns, Conservative, Labour's Philippa Thompson, and Glyn Tomos Preston of the Liberal Democrats.

First round:

• Jon Burns (Conservatives): 69,112

• Dafydd Llywelyn (Plaid Cymru): 68,208

• Philippa Thompson (Labour): 48,033

• Glyn Preston (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 17,649

Second round:

• Jon Burns: 8,209
• Dafydd Llywelyn: 26,280

Mr Llywelyn said: “I am extremely pleased to be re-elected as your Police and Crime Commissioner. As the current Commissioner, operational, front-line policing has, and try to will come before party politics. I've got a strong history of delivering on my promises as well as listening to the communities of Dyfed Powys. I am happy with things i have achieved since 2021, but there is still a lot to complete.

“Your safety factors are my main concern. I wish to ensure that the Dyfed Powys Police remains among the safest places to live in Wales and England.”

A fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Llywelyn was previously elected as PCC for Dyfed Powys in 2021, having previously worked as the Head of Intelligence Analysis at Dyfed Powys and lectured in criminology at Aberystwyth University.

Asked before the elections about his priorities if re-elected as police and crime commissioner, he said: "My ambition if re-elected would be to continue the positive work I have completed with partners. More police officers is going to be recruited and I will ensure that a focus is placed on early intervention and prevention. Transparency can be assured with a commitment to hold public meetings and events to increase the public's voice in shaping policing, working closely with local authorities and charities, and creating a victim led service."

North Wales

The new Police and Crime Commissioner for that North Wales Police area is Labour's Andy Dunbobbin. The role has a salary of 71,400.

Mr Dunbobbin's victory comes after the previous PPC Arfon Jones announced he'd not stand again after being elected in 2021.

On Sunday the 46-year-old was elected after standing against four other candidates: Patricia Astbury, Conservative, Ann Griffith, Plaid Cymru, Lisa Wilkins, Liberal Democrats and independent candidate Mark John Young.

He won with 98,034 overall votes defeating Conservative rival Pat Astbury by 7,885 votes after second preference ballots were put in.

Turnout was 46.08%, up 5.26% from 2021.

Provisional first round:

• Mark Young (Independent): 15,907
• Andy Dunbobbin (Labour): 69,459
• Lisa Wilkins (Welsh Liberal Democrats): 10,149
• Pat Astbury (Conservative): 75,472
• Ann Griffith (Plaid Cymru): 67,672

Second round:

• Andy Dunbobbin (Labour): 28,575

• Pat Astbury (Conservative): 14,677

Mr Dunbobbin lives in Connah's Quay and has eight years' experience of being a Flintshire county councillor. He sits as North Wales Military Strategic Group's Vice-chair and it has also sat around the North Wales Police and Crime Panel and North Wales Adoption Panel.

Asked previously about his priorities if elected, he explained: "Visibility within our communities could be my top priority. We all want to be safe and secure – this really matters to us. Having a more visible police presence would reassure our communities and help towards us reclaiming the streets. I also believe that more visibility on social networking platforms must happen and I works collaboratively, cross-party to challenge social networking companies so the police can take further action. There's been ten years of unprecedented cuts in policing and also to Welsh Government from the Conservative UK government. This is why the Welsh Labour Government's purchase of additional PCSOs continues to be so vital – and why I'm so pleased the Welsh Labour manifesto includes a pledge to provide 100 more. Whereas the Conservatives have said they will end the funding for this scheme – meaning a loss of 500 PCSOs from patrolling Welsh streets."