Norfolk has a new Reform police and crime commissioner - after fewer than a fifth of the public voted in a £2m election.
Former Met Police detective Colin Sutton succeeds Sarah Taylor in the £76k-a-year post, following her resignation last month.
But only 17.14pc of the public – 122,739 of the 716,224 electorate – headed to Norfolk polling stations to vote for a post which is due to be axed in two years – meaning it cost £16.29 for each person who did vote.
That was the second lowest turnout for a countywide election in Norfolk’s history, with only the first PCC election in 2012 lower, when turnout was just 14.5pc.
Mr Sutton won with 32, 647 votes, with Conservative Matthew Taylor second with 18,343.
Green Martin Schmierer was third with 16,907, with Norfolk businessman Marcus Pearcey, who ran as an independent, fourth with 16,402.
Labour's Beth Jones secured 14,192 votes, Restore Britain's Mark Buckton garnered 13,319 and Liberal Democrat Chris Brown was in last place with 10,499.
The police and crime commissioner’s powers include being able to hire and fire the chief constable, while they also set the constabulary’s budget, including how much in council tax goes to the police.
They publish a police and crime plan – setting out the force’s priorities and commission services for victims of crime.
But the post is due to be abolished in 2028 when the powers pass to the new mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk.
Ms Taylor stepped down from the post in June, saying her family had experienced "multiple bereavements and ill health" and that a close relative had received a "life changing" diagnosis.
She has since started a new job.
During his time with the Met Police, Mr Sutton led the investigation which culminated in the conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield for the London murders of Amelia Delagrange in 2004 and Marsha McDonnell in 2003, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy in 2004.
Bellfield was sentenced to a whole life tariff in 2008.
Three years later he was also convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler.
Mr Sutton, who retired from the police in 2011, also led the investigation into serial rapist Delroy Grant during his 30-year career.
The police and crime commissioner’s powers include being able to hire and fire the chief constable.
They also set the constabulary’s budget, including how much in council tax goes to the police.
They publish a police and crime plan – setting out the force’s priorities and commission services for victims of crime.
But the post is due to be abolished in 2028 when the powers pass to the new mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk.
That means Mr Sutton will be the fifth and, as it stands, final person to hold the post.
Ms Taylor stepped down from the post in June, saying her family had experienced "multiple bereavements and ill health" and that a close relative had received a "life changing" diagnosis.
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