SUE Mountstevens has been re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset after a close election.

Ms Mountstevens was re-elected earlier today after gaining 118,547 votes, beating her nearest competitor Kerry Barker, who achieved 100,565.

There were seven candidates battling it out, with voters from nine districts across the region going to the polls.

The turn-out of voters was 26 per cent, which is 10 per cent higher than four years ago when just 16 per cent of the electorate voted.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Ms Mountstevens, however, as a late surge of votes from Bristol for Labour candidate Mr Barker propelled the two into the second round of voting.

Speaking on stage after her re-election, Ms Mountstevens vowed to continue to keep politics out of policing, and slammed a “disgraceful” lack of information available for the electorate from central Government, and hitting back at “vile” abuse she received on social media.

She said: "Thank you to residents who have chosen me as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, I will continue to keep politics out of policing.

"The role of PCC is an important one for the wellbeing of all residents, and I am looking forward to grasping the opportunities and facing the challenges of this job.

"Working together with Chief Constable Andy Marsh, we are dedicated to preventing crime, fighting crime, and we will continue to work with all of our communities.

"There was a disgraceful lack of information for the election from central government, and I have been appalled a lot of anonymous on social media. It really doesn't help democratic debate.

"I will continue to work with Andy Marsh tackling exploitation and abuse of children, tackling crimes against the most vulnerable and fighting back against cyber crime.

"I will continue to be accessible to all, and listening to victims of crime in all of our communities.

"In these times of austerity I will find efficiencies so that we can reinvest and build strong neighbourhood policing.

"I believe partnership working is the only way forward and I will work closely to strengthen our bonds with local partners.

"I will continue to be independent, honest and transparent, and I will continue to be engaged and I will continue to carry out the role without fear or favour.

"I want you to be safe and make you feel safe again."

Speaking to the Gazette after her election, Ms Mountstevens said: "I am feeling very privileged and honoured that I'm going to be able to be the commissioner for the next four years.

"I want to work very closely with Wiltshire Police to find the savings by sharing back office staff and then re-investing that money into a strong neighbourhood policing teams, particularly targeting the exploitation and abuse of children, cyber crime, and crimes against the most vulnerable.

"I want policing to be effective and working with Andy Marsh I hope to be able to achieve that.

"Reinvesting in police officers on the streets will be a priority."

Andy Marsh, Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, spoke to the Gazette after the announcement.

He said: "I am pleased that the election is finished and can really get on with working with the returning PCC.

"Sue Mountstevens is passionate about protecting people from crime and providing excellent services to victims, and believes that we best achieve that by working in partnership with other agencies.

"This is something that I am really excited and looking forward to working with her on over the next four years."