Hertfordshire’s new police and crime commissioner has promised to make the county “a far safer place than it already is”.

Conservative David Lloyd made the pledge in his victory speech after being declared the winner of the police election today.

Mr Lloyd beat his nearest challenger, Labour’s Sherma Batson, in the second round of voting to clinch the £75,000-a-year job this afternoon.

After the count he said: “This is an exciting role and together we will make Hertfordshire a far safer place than it already is.

“We are going to drive down crime together, let’s see what happens in three and a half years.”

Mr Lloyd also praised three other police commissioner candidates from Labour - the Liberal Democrats and UKIP - for running a clean campaign.

He added: “This has been a really clean campaign, as you would expect with such excellent people.

“I am pleased to call the other candidates friends and we have this campaign in that spirit.”