Caroline Henry loses job as Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner

Caroline Henry has lost her role as Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner after being defeated by Labour. The Conservative candidate achieved 77,148 votes, compared to Gary Godden's 119,355.

The Liberal Democrat candidate, David Watts, achieved 32,410 votes. People across Nottinghamshire had voted in the poll on Thursday (May 2), which took place on the same day as the East Midlands Mayor election.

The Police and Crime Commissioner result was declared at the Rushcliffe Arena on Friday (May 3), with the count being attended by figures including Caroline Henry's husband, the Conservative MP for Broxtowe Darren Henry. Mrs Henry attracted significant controversy during her time as Police and Crime Commissioner for refusing to resign despite being convicted of five speeding offences over the course of four months.

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The commissioner left court in July 2022 with a total fine of £2,450 and received a six-month driving ban. Gary Godden, a former Nottinghamshire Police officer who served for 15 years with the force, is now set to serve in the Police and Crime Commissioner role for four years.

The role of Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was created in 2012 and was held by former Sherwood Labour MP Paddy Tipping until Caroline Henry's election in 2021. The future of the PCC role in Nottinghamshire is uncertain given the creation of the new East Midlands Combined Combined Authority, which Claire Ward as Labour's East Midlands Mayor will lead.

As part of preparations for this authority, it has previously been suggested that the police forces covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire could be merged. Other options for the future of policing in both counties could also see directly-elected Police and Crime Commissioners being scrapped. The Police and Crime Commissioners could be replaced by two deputy mayors, one for Nottinghamshire and one for Derbyshire, though these would not be elected.

In a speech after his victory, Mr Godden said: "To the electorate, thank you for electing for me. I am humbled, I appreciate the mandate that you've given me for Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire has a rich history of policing and I am looking to add to that history in the right way.

"It's time to move forward, it's time to improve, it's time to work with our communities. To all those who voted for me, and those who didn't, I will look to serve Nottinghamshire to the best of my ability and make Nottinghamshire safer."