Former detective Colin Sutton has made history by becoming the first Reform UK candidate to be elected as a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
Sutton secured victory in the Norfolk PCC by-election after receiving 32,647 votes, defeating Conservative candidate Matthew Taylor by a majority of 14,299 votes.
The election was triggered following the resignation of former commissioner Sarah Taylor, who left the Labour Party to serve as an independent after opposing plans to abolish the PCC role.
Reacting to his victory, Sutton thanked voters for their confidence in him and pledged to begin work immediately, promising to justify the trust placed in his leadership.
He described policing as his lifelong career and expressed confidence that he could help improve public safety and policing across Norfolk.
Sutton is widely recognised for leading the investigation that resulted in the conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield for the murders of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange. Although he retired from the police in 2011 and relocated to Norfolk, he has remained active in public affairs through media appearances.
During his campaign, Sutton promised to place greater attention on rural crime, arguing that policing priorities had focused too heavily on urban areas.
Conservative candidate Matthew Taylor congratulated Sutton on his victory, saying he had dedicated himself fully to the campaign by engaging with communities throughout Norfolk.
The by-election recorded a voter turnout of 17.14 percent, making it one of the lowest participation rates since Police and Crime Commissioners were introduced in 2012.
Sutton’s election is also expected to be among the last PCC contests, as plans are underway to replace the role with a new devolved governance structure covering Norfolk and Suffolk.
