NOTTS' first Police and Crime Commissioner promised to recruit 150 police officers over the next four years after being elected last night.
Labour candidate Paddy Tipping missed out on clinching the victory at the first stage of yesterday's count after getting 42 per cent of the vote, when 50 per cent was needed to win in the first round.
Independent candidate and retired police officer Malcolm Spencer took him to a second stage of counting after achieving 22 per cent, ahead of Conservative Tony Roberts who secured 19 per cent of the vote, and independent candidate Raj Chandran came last with 14 per cent.
Under the supplementary vote system, all candidates apart from those in the first and second place were then eliminated. Any second preference votes for the two remaining candidates were added to their first preference votes to establish the winner.
In the second round, Mr Tipping gained 8,563 and Mr Spencer 22,526 votes. This left Mr Tipping with a final total of 65,919 and Mr Spencer with 52,789.
Mr Tipping was declared the winner at 5.15pm at Nottingham Tennis Centre and immediately hit out at the Government's planning of the election.
He said: "It's a crazy time to hold an election in the autumn and I'm really disappointed with the Electoral Commission's booklet [which was posted to households] because it contained no information about the candidates."
He added: "I'm going to recruit an extra 150 police officers, plus 100 new PCSOs and try to redirect resources to neighbourhood policing."
On massive Government cuts to the Notts Police budget, he added: "It's going to be hard but I am clear in my own mind that these are cuts that are too quick and too deep."
He added he would review how much the force spends on paying senior officers to try and save cash.
Mr Spencer said: "I think I've done something for the independent movement in that I proved you can take politicians on at their own game.
"I promised to keep politics out of policing and I will keep my eye on Mr Tipping to make sure that happens."
In his new role, Mr Tipping will be in charge of deciding crime-fighting priorities for police, setting the force's budgets and scrutinising its performance.
Commissioners were elected in 41 areas of England and Wales yesterdayas part of a Government reform which scrapped police authorities.
Whitehall said the change will give the public more of a say in how police are run, but critics say its is too costly and has been poorly publicised.
Mr Tipping will be make a declaration of acceptance at the Galleries of Justice on Tuesday and his first official day at work will be Thursday.
He will be supported by a police and crime panel made up of representatives from the district, borough and Nottingham City councils, plus independent members.
Councillor John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, has already been appointed chairman of the panel, which will also scrutinise the commissioner.
The election was marred by a record low turnout for a vote in Notts.
Across the city and county only 16.77 per cent of people able to vote took part in Thursday's poll – less than one in six and less than voted in May's mayoral referendum in the city, which attracted 23.9 per cent of voters.
The area with the lowest turnout was Mansfield with just 13.47 per cent.
Rushcliffe was the highest with 22.35 per cent.
Tony Roberts said: "I feel disappointed, there might be a bit of a bruised ego but I'm not entirely surprised. It's representative of the Government not being entirely popular at the moment and it's been difficult to get the message across the county."
Mr Chandran said: "I think the low turnout is the reason why Paddy has won."
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