Bill Longmore

His role as Police and Crime Commissioner officially commenced on 22 November 2012.[3] One of his first acts in the role was to give his backing to an alliance with the neighbouring Warwickshire Police Force enabling them to pool services and make budgetary savings of £30.3million.[8][9] A draft report published in January 2013 and titled the Police and Crime Plan indicated that as part of the savings the two police forces would collectively lose 200 frontline police officers by 2016, as well as 450 civilian posts, with West Mercia bearing the lion's share of the losses.[10]

He attracted controversy in December 2012 after appointing his former campaign manager, Barrie Sheldon to the post of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, despite advice to the contrary from Worcestershire County Council's Police and Crime Commission Panel, which felt there should be more competition for the position.[11] Longmore and Sheldon had both served as officers with Staffordshire Police, but had not known each other until the 2012 election campaign.[12] Longmore's decision, which he described as "absolutely necessary" led to allegations of cronyism,[13] and prompted the Council's Labour group to call for his resignation, with a threat to put forward a motion of no confidence against him at a Council meeting on 17 January 2013.[14] The motion was subsequently rejected by a majority of 49–4.[15]

In response Longmore said that he had given Sheldon the job on the merit of his experience as a former police officer and university lecturer rather than through any favouritism.[16] Following the rejection of the no confidence vote Longmore said that he would put forward a proposal that future PCC candidates name the person they intend to select as their deputy as part of their campaign for office.[15][17]

He fulfilled his election pledge to retire at the PCC elections which took place on 5 May 2016. His deputy Barrie Sheldon stood as Independent candidate but lost to Conservative candidate John Campion.