Fears for democracy as low turnout for new police bosses prompts inquiry That did not represent a mandate from the public, critics said, and could lead to clashes with chief constables when commissioners demanded action. David Cameron faced discontent among a number of grassroots Tories who criticised the timing of the elections and warned that the party might come to regret introducing the posts. The elections had been planned for two and a half years and cost more than £75 million to stage but the Home Office refused to fund a free mailshot for candidates, instead putting their details on a website. In the event, average turnout across the country was around 15 per cent. In Staffordshire, that fell to 11 per cent. It was even lower in some individual wards. Voters" lack of interest or knowledge, and the decision to hold the poll in November were all blamed. Downing Street tried to blame the media for the poor turnout, saying they had not given the contests enough coverage. Jenny Watson, who chairs the Electoral Commission, said: "The low turnout at the police and crime commissioner elections is a concern for everyone who cares about democracy. These were new elections taking place at an unfamiliar time of year, which is why we have made clear at every stage that it would be important to engage effectively with voters. The Government took a number of decisions about how to run these elections that we did not agree with. Conor Burns, the Conservative back-bench MP for Bournemouth West, broke ranks last night to warn: "I suspect we will live to regret creating these police commissioners. I regret voting for the Bill. Tim Passmore, also a Conservative, won the vote for commissioner in Suffolk but immediately criticised the Government for holding the vote in November. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat party president, said that it would be "extremely difficult" for PCCs to claim a mandate when they were elected by so few people. There was also a backlash over fears of the politicisation of policing with candidates from the main political parties securing a number of posts. Independents performed well but an unusually high number of spoilt ballot papers were reported. They ran at between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent of the turnout. Anything over 2 per cent is regarded by experts as evidence of deliberate action. In Coventry, the number of spoilt papers outnumbered votes cast for the Lib Dem candidate, Ayoub Khan, at 884 to 783. Those who did vote sent a clear message to the main parties as 12 independents were returned. In Dorset, Martyn Underhill, a former detective chief inspector who helped catch Sarah Payne's killer, defeated Tory Nick King in the second round with more than 60 per cent of the vote. Gloucestershire elected Martin Surl, who was a police officer for more than 30 years, while in Gwent, Ian Johnston, former president of the Police Superintendents" Association, beat Hamish Sandison, Labour's candidate, into second place. Former police officers standing as independents also beat party political rivals in North Wales and Staffordshire, while one-time airline pilot Ron Ball took the post in Warwickshire. In Surrey, Kevin Hurley, a former Metropolitan Police commander, won on a "zero tolerance policing" banner. After a bitterly fought campaign in Hampshire, former Northern Ireland minister Michael Mates was defeated by the independent Simon Hayes, a former chairman of the area's police authority. During the campaign it was disclosed that Mr Mates was being investigated over allegations of fraud following claims that he had misrepresented his place of residence during the election. Elsewhere a number of former and current MPs won, while others included councillors and former police authority bosses. Charles Clarke, a former Labour home secretary, said that the elections had been "the dangerous shambles that many of us predicted" and called on Labour to commit itself to abolishing the posts. "The commissioners who have been elected will have no mandate for any strategic judgment and no authority in relation to the police force in their area," he said. Mr Cameron insisted that the new commissioners would have a mandate. "The turnout was always going to be low, when you're electing a new post for the first time, but remember these police and crime commissioners are replacing organisations that weren't directly elected at all," the Prime Minister said. Police authorities were appointed from within local authorities with a number of magistrates and other independent members. Grant Shapps, the Conservative Party co-chairman, said the new commissioners had "much more credibility and legitimacy" than the police authority chairmen they were replacing. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, insisted that the Government had publicised the vote. "I'm sure next time round we will see an increase in the turnout because next time round people will be used to the idea of police and crime commissioners, they'll have seen them in action and, of course, there will be an incumbent who will be challenged," she said.