16 November 2012 Last updated at 10:34 ET

Conservative Tim Passmore wins Suffolk PCC election

Tim Passmore said he was "honoured and privileged" to be named Suffolk's first PCC

Conservative Tim Passmore has been chosen as Suffolk's first police and crime commissioner (PCC).

He beat Labour's Jane Basham after second preference votes were counted as neither managed to get 50% of the votes.

Directly elected PCCs are replacing police authorities and will be responsible for controlling budgets and setting police priorities.

Turnout in the county was 16.01%. The results were announced in Martlesham.

Mr Passmore said he was "honoured and privileged" to have won an "historic and important election".

"Together we will make Suffolk even safer and better and continue to make it a wonderful county in England," he said.

'Extremely poor'

Mr Passmore said the government needed to take responsibility for the "disappointing" turnout.

"Holding elections in November is not a sensible time for any candidate," he said.

"I don't think the publicity regarding what the role of police and crime commissioner is about was anywhere near adequate - in fact I think it was extremely poor."

Jane Basham said she was "disappointed" to have missed out, after leading in the first preference vote.

But she said this showed that "Labour is back in Suffolk".

"I pass my huge congratulations to my opponent, and my commiserations to [Independent] David Cocks," she said.

SUFFOLK: Tim Passmore (Conservative) elected
Turnout does not include spoilt ballots
Turnout: 85,168 (15.4%)
Second round
Candidate	Party	Final total	%	Status
Tim Passmore	Conservative	36,946	51.4	Elected
Jane Basham	Labour	35,005	48.6
First round
Candidate	Party	1st pref	%	2nd pref
Jane Basham	Labour	29,868	35.1%	5,137
Tim Passmore	Conservative	29,798	35.0%	7,141
David Cocks	Independent	14,224	16.7%
Bill Moutford	UKIP	11,278	13.2%