New date for election as police investigation gets under way

A DATE for a new election for the Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) role has been set for August, following Jonathon Seed’s ‘disqualification’.

A police investigation into the events surrounding the election – which saw the Conservative Party’s candidate win the election race despite being ‘disbarred’ the day before the result was announced because of a historic drink driving offence – is also under way.

The PCC election will be held on 19th August, and it has been reported that it will cost tax payers £1.4million.

Wiltshire Council’s chief executive, Terence Herbert, has explained that a date has been set for August as council legislation means the PCC role cannot be officially declared as vacant for two months after the polls have closed. He added, “The council is working closely with the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner and Wiltshire Police and all officers and staff will continue to work hard to protect residents and make sure that our communities remain safe.

“Given that we are now following a legal process and as Wiltshire Police have asked Thames Valley Police to conduct an “investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 2021 Wiltshire & Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner election”, it would be inappropriate for us to provide any further comment at this time.”

About the police investigation, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said, “Following a request by Wiltshire Police, we have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 2021 Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner election. As our enquiries are ongoing we will not be making further comment at this time.”

Jonathon Seed, who was also elected as a Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham Without West & Rural, claims that when he applied to be a PCC candidate he believed that he was an eligible candidate and that he had declared his driving conviction to the Conservative Party. 

He also says that up until the evening of 6th May – the day of the PCC election – party officials had told him that his drink driving offence did not affect his eligibility to stand as a PCC candidate, despite guidance on the Electoral Commission’s website that states PCC candidates cannot stand for election if they have ever been convicted of an ‘imprisonable offence’.

So far, he has dismissed calls for him to resign from his role as a Wiltshire Councillor.