THE region went to the polls yesterday in the first-ever elections for police and crime commissioners.

However fears that there could be an all-time low turnout for the election appeared to be borne out as election officials reported very low turnouts.

At the UCS polling station in Ipswich, there were few indications of any election frenzy – and a similar story was emerging across the country.

It is expected that the turnout for this election nationally will be below the all-time low turnout of 24% recorded in the 1999 European Elections.

Some experts have estimated that the national turnout – all parts of England and Wales have a vote except for the Greater London area – will be as low as 15-18%.

The count for the election will be held at seven locations across the county – one for every district or borough council in Suffolk.

All these results will be passed through to the main count at the police headquarters at Martlesham Heath.

The verification of the votes was due to start at 8.30am today, with the main counts starting later in the morning.

The final result is expected to be declared some time after lunch – although because it is the first such elections returning officers have been reluctant to predict how long the count will last.

In Essex there are six candidates standing for election, and again the result is expected to be announced during the afternoon. The commissioners are due to take over their new jobs next week, with their first job to prepare next year’s budget.

See this website for the result later today.