CONSERVATIVE Nick Alston has won the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Essex by 4,000 votes.
The 60-year-old of Chelmsford fought off the challenge of independent candidate Mick Thwaites.
Mr Alston won a total of 62,350 votes compared to Mr Thwaites' 58,664.
After the first round of voting Mr Alston and former police chief Mr Thwaites were head-to-head.
After the second round of votes were counted at the election headquarters at Riverside Ice and Leisure centre in Chelmsford, Mr Alston was the clear winner with more than 4,000 more votes than Mr Thwaites.
Mr Alston was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford and Cambridge University (MA).
He is married to Philippa, with one son, Major Robert Alston MBE, serving in the Royal Artillery in Afghanistan and one daughter Victoria, who is a teacher. He also has two grandchildren.
Nick said during the election race: "I was born in Harwich police station and lived all across Essex, following my father's career as a senior police officer.
"He retired as deputy chief constable in 1971. After Cambridge I joined the Royal Navy and then moved to defence and national security, including serving in Northern Ireland.
"After 32 years' public service, I joined a major international company for five years as the director responsible for security, often working with police.
"I am now on the advisory board of the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at UCL and a director at Broomfield Hospital.
"I am enthusiastic about this new role, to which I would bring experience and a record of success to help me both challenge and support the Chief Constable.
"The role will enable all of us in Essex to have a direct say in setting the priorities of our police and to hold them to account in a way that the outgoing Police Authority could not."
The police commissioner election was decided by the Supplementary Vote system, which is used to decide the Mayor of London election.
Under this system, there are two columns on the ballot paper where voters must mark their first and second choice candidates.
Voters did not have to make a second choice if they did not want to.
Defeated Mr Thwaites, who enjoyed a 34-year police career that saw him hold the ranks of Divisional Commander Southend, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Essex Police and Chief Superintendent, came in second place with 58,664 votes after standing as an independent candidate.
He said: "I am obviously very sorry I have missed out on becoming the first Essex Police and Crime Commissioner. I'd like to thank everyone who did vote for me, and also I'd like to give special thanks to all my family, friends and supporters who have worked tirelessly to help me in my election campaign."
He added: "I'd like to wish Nick Alston all success as the first elected Essex Police and Crime Commissioner and hope they can use their position to put the voice of the people of Essex back at the heart of policing. I will now be taking some time to recover from the campaign trail and consider my future."
