The Conservative incumbent, Philip Wilkinson has been elected for a second term as the Police & Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire Police, covering Swindon and the wider county.

But he faced a very strong challenge from Stanka Adamcova, the Swindon Borough Councillor, who came within 2,250 votes of a shock win.

And because votes were counted in two sites: the votes cast in Swindon at Steam Museum, and those in the Wiltshire Council area at County Hall in Trowbridge, the size of that challenge was not immediately apparent.

A clue was given when the turnout was announced: there were 52,000 votes cast in Swindon, a turnout of 31 per cent, and just 73,500 in Wiltshire, a very low turnout of 19 per cent.

It meant the overall turnout was just 22 per cent.

As 135 tellers in County Hall counted in strong sunlight shining into the glazed atrium, Mr Wilkinson said: “I’m concerned by the low turn-out.

“This job is probably the closest level of accountability to ordinary people. Before PCCs were created, if you had a complaint, you contacted your MP, who might contact the Home Secretary. Now, if you have a complaint, you can come direct to me. It’s almost a one-to-one relationship”.

There were four candidates standing. Mr Wilkinson, Ms Adamcova, Alan Hagger for the Liberal Democrats and Mike Rees a former Wiltshire Police detective making a second run, having come within a few thousand votes of taking the win at the second election held in 2021.

As the count progressed in Trowbridge, and counted votes were stacked in trays for each candidate, it looked like a straight contest between Mr Wilkinson and Mr Rees.

When the Wiltshire figures were announced, that seemed to be the case.

Ms Adamcova had 12,115 votes, Mr Hagger 16, 720, Mr Rees 19,754 and Mr Wilkinson 24,503.

But that lead was clearly not enough with 50,000 votes in Swindon still to be announced – and Labour had had a very good day at the borough council elections on Thursday.

And the party had a very good day there in the PCC elections Ms Adamcova took 24,230 votes, with 9,281 going to Mr Rees, 3,765 to Mr Hagger and 14, 075 to Mr Wilkinson.

After the declaration, Mr Wilkinson said: “I am thrilled to be re-elected. Irrespective of who you voted for I swerve you.

“I look forward to working with our outstanding Chief Constable and new management team with new systems and the great officers on the beat to deliver the police service you want and thee what the officers want to deliver to you.”