ESSEX'S first Police and Crime Commissioner will start work today after an election in which just 13.06 per cent of the county's population voted.
Nick Alston, the Conservative party's candidate, will become the £80-000-a-year boss of Essex Police, even though just over four per cent of the 1.3 million registered voters in Essex (one in 25) picked him on their ballot papers.
After the public's first choice votes were counted, it was clear the election was a two-horse race between Mr Alston, a 60-year-old former Royal Navy officer from Chelmsford, and independent candidate and former police chief Mick Thwaites.
But shortly after Mr Alston arrived at the county's election headquarters at Riverside Ice and Leisure on Friday, flanked by his wife Pippa and his election campaign team, it was announced he had beaten his closest rival by 4,000 votes.
He told the Chronicle: "I feel terrific. I'm very excited about being elected Essex's first Police and Crime Commissioner.
"Anyone in an election like this is going to feel very nervous, I knew it was going to be a close result."
Mr Alston received 4,889 votes in Braintree, 5,941 votes in Chelmsford and 2,181 votes in Maldon. All the new commissioners will officially take up the £80,000-a-year role today, November 22.
He added: "I take office next Friday so I have a week to tidy up my old life as it were. I'll be spending the time now getting ready for the role with all sorts of briefings and taking the opportunity to see some of the police authority staff as it's their last week. It must be sad for them, so I want to find out what's on their minds."
The new commissioner replaces the current police authority – a body of 17 members made up of local councillors who hold the police to account on behalf of the communities of Essex.
When asked how he felt about the poor turnout, Mr Alston said: "It would have been great if a few more people had voted, of course. It wasn't a surprise. It wasn't a great day and it was hard to get your head around.
"Very few people understood the role of the police authority and why electing someone to do that role was a good idea. I also think there was a lot of coverage about mixing policing and politics and that might have put people off.
"But I just want to say, not just to the people who voted for me but to everyone who voted, thank you and well done.
"It's a real honour to be elected and well done for voting as we've a real opportunity to make a difference in Essex.
"The really exciting thing is demonstrating in the next three-and-a-half years that we can really make a difference.
"During my campaign I've said public engagement is at the heart of what I do. And I'll be leading public engagement in the 14 districts, so I really understand what's going on and give people a voice.
"I want to reduce crime and make Essex safer but the crime has to be tackled on a district by district basis. It is different in each area, and that's important.
"We are very committed but it's wrong to focus on just one crime. Victims really do matter, which leads us on to domestic violence. I think we're still trying to understand the scope of the challenge of domestic violence across Essex.
"We have to have continued focus on that because there were two fairly bad reports about Essex Police and we can't take our eye off that."
He added: "I've a natural affinity with Essex. I was born in an Essex police station and am an Essex boy.
"But I've spent 36 years working with the police. I understand how the police work and am very comfortable working with them. But I'm not an insider and I can offer a fresh perspective.
"I have a lot of senior management experience which I think will help me support and challenge the chief constable and his team and ask questions of them.
"I'm very much looking forward to taking up the role.
"I know there's an awful lot to learn, and I'm not going to throw everything up in the air on day one, there must be continuity when needed and change where that is also needed."
