Reform UK has secured a historic milestone after former senior detective Colin Sutton was elected as the party’s first Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), winning the Norfolk by-election with a decisive victory.
Sutton, who spent more than three decades with the Metropolitan Police and led several high-profile murder investigations, received 32,647 votes to defeat Conservative candidate Matthew Taylor by a margin of 14,299 votes.
The election was held following the resignation of former Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Sarah Taylor. Elected under the Labour Party, she later left the party to serve as an independent before stepping down after plans were announced to abolish the PCC role as part of wider local government reforms.
Speaking after his victory was confirmed on Friday, Sutton expressed gratitude to voters and promised to begin work immediately.
“I’m overjoyed. Policing has been my life, and I believe I can make a real difference. I will repay the trust the people of Norfolk have placed in me,” he said.
Sutton is widely recognised for leading investigations into some of Britain’s most notorious murder cases, including those involving serial killer Levi Bellfield, who was convicted of murdering Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange. After retiring from the police in 2011, Sutton relocated to Norfolk, where he has remained active as a crime commentator and analyst.
Throughout his campaign, Sutton pledged to prioritise rural policing, arguing that crime affecting villages and farming communities had not received enough attention compared to urban areas.
Although Reform UK already has one serving Police and Crime Commissioner after Rupert Matthews defected from the Conservative Party, Sutton is the first candidate elected directly under the Reform UK banner.
Conservative candidate Matthew Taylor finished second with 18,343 votes, followed by Green Party candidate Martin Schmierer with 16,907 votes. Independent candidate Marcus Pearcey secured 16,402 votes, while Labour’s Beth Jones received 14,192 votes. Restore Britain candidate Mark Buckton polled 13,319 votes, and Liberal Democrat Christopher Brown finished with 10,499 votes.
Voter turnout stood at just over 17 percent, making it the second-lowest participation rate recorded since Police and Crime Commissioners were introduced in 2012. In some polling districts, turnout fell below six percent.
Unless another vacancy arises, this is expected to be the final Police and Crime Commissioner election in Norfolk, with the role set to be abolished under plans to introduce a combined mayoral authority covering Norfolk and Suffolk.
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