There is a new person in charge who will hold Sandbach - and indeed Cheshire - police officers to account.

This afternoon, Dan Price has been elected as Cheshire's next police and crime commissioner.

He will take office next week.

The Labour candidate was elected with 20,443 more votes than the second-placed candidate.

The result was declared at the DCBL stadium in Widnes by the police area returning officer, Halton Borough Council's Chief Executive Stephen Young.

The number of votes cast for each candidate was:

First Place: Dan Price (Labour) – 86,279 (48.1%)

Second Place: John Dwyer (Conservative) – 65,836 (36.7%)

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Third Place: Paul Duffy (Liberal Democrat) – 27,342 (15.2%)

The main duties of the police and crime commissioner are to hold the chief constable to account on behalf of Cheshire residents, set the police budget and the council tax precept that residents pay, commission services for victims of crime, and set the strategic direction for Cheshire Constabulary through the Police and Crime Plan.

A statement released by the Office of the Police Commissioner for Cheshire read: "Dan has lived in Cheshire all his life and for over a decade has been a councillor, bringing new ideas and energy to public service."

"He sees the challenges that residents face daily and knows what is needed for people to feel safe."

Dan will officially take office on Thursday 9 May, one week on from the election date.

He is the second Labour representative election to be Cheshire's Police Commissioner. David Keane served as Cheshire's PCC from 12 May 2016 to 12 May 2021.

Cheshire's first Police Commissioner was John Dwyer, who served from 22 November 2012 to 11 May 2016, who was lated elected for a second term from 13 May 2021 until the start of this month.