Dr Alan Billings wins South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner election

Dr Billings was initially elected in a by-election in 2014 after Shaun Wright, also Labour, resigned over the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal.

He retained the post, responsible for holding the county’s police force to account, today ahead of UKIP’s Gavin Felton, the Lib Dems' Joe Otten, Conservative Ian Walker and David Alllen of the English Democrats.

Dr Billings received 144,978 votes and will remain in position for the next four years.

Mr Allen received 19,144 votes, Mr Felton received 19,144 votes, Joe Otten received 28,060 votes and Ian Walker received 29,904 votes.

Dr Billings said: “Whatever these issues are, we have to face them, understand them, understand what the lessons are to be learned and take it forward from there."