Elections and Purdah

Police and Crime Commissioners are elected every four years.  The last election was in May 2016 and the next election will be in May 2020.

To read about the roles and responsibilities of a PCC please visit the Home Office briefing about PCC roles and responsibilities or view the short video at the top of the page made by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), which explains how the public can have their say in who their local PCC is. You can also find information on the My Role pages of our website.

Interested in being a candidate?

To read more about election guidance for PCCs, including qualifications for standing as a candidate, please visit the Electoral Commission. This page will be updated as guidance becomes available for 2020.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s (APCC) has created a candidate briefing which offers guidance, advice and information for anyone interested in standing as a candidate in the 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner elections

APCC candidate briefing document 

The Office of the PCC will be holding a briefing event for potential candidates for the 2020 election. To register your interest and receive more information, please e-mail the communications team.

Have your say on who is the next PCC

To vote in a PCC election you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
• be a British, Commonwealth or EU citizen
• be resident at an address in England or Wales (excluding London)
• not be legally excluded from voting.

PCCs are elected using the Supplementary Vote system. You make a first and second choice when you vote.

If no candidate gets more than 50% of the first choice votes, all except the top two candidates are eliminated. If your first choice candidate is eliminated, and your second choice is for one of the top two, your second choice is counted.