New Police Commissioner elected

The new Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire has been announced as Jonathan Ash-Edwards, following countywide elections on Thursday 2nd May.

Four candidates contested the election and the results were as follows:- Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Conservative), Sean Prendergast (Liberal Democrat), Tom Plater (Labour) and Matthew Fisher (Green).

Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Conservative) - 93,658 votes
Sean Prendergast (Liberal Democrat) - 68,264 votes
Tom Plater (Labour) - 66,585 votes
Matthew Fisher (Green) - 26,714 votes.

Mr Ash-Edwards begins his four-year term on 9th May.

Hertfordshire resident Mr Ash-Edwards comes to the role with a background as a local Councillor in Sussex for 16 years, including as a Council Leader, as well as founding an education trust now responsible for the education of over 3,500 young people.

Jonathan chaired a high performing Community Safety Partnership for four years, giving him a significant insight into effective strategies for crime prevention and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Mr Ash-Edwards has also been a serial business builder, he started his first business at the age of 24 and has led a company delivering major projects to clients across a range of sectors.

The turnout across Hertfordshire was 29.3 per cent. This compares with 37.4 per cent at the last election in 2021 and 29 percent in 2016.

The PCC is responsible for the way policing is delivered in the county. They decide how funding related to policing and crime reduction is allocated and set a Police and Crime Plan which sets the strategic direction and objectives of the force. They also bring together community safety and criminal justice partners to ensure local priorities are joined up.