[4] The government considers the elected commissioners to have a stronger mandate than the "unelected and invisible police authorities that they replace".

[10] The day after the election, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke suggested that, because of the low turnout and high number of spoilt ballot papers, there was no popular mandate for the new commissioners.

[13] Section 57 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 directs that the voting system is first past the post if there are only two candidates for a specific commissioner region.

[16][17] All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in England and Wales (except London) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday 15 November 2012 were entitled to vote in the PCC elections.

[22] On 11 September 2012 the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog in the UK, announced it would run a public awareness campaign from Monday 22 October 2012 until polling day 15 November 2012.

The commission also published a briefing note setting out the steps that needed to be taken to ensure the police and crime commissioner elections were well run.

[26] The Liberal Democrats Federal Executive Committee voted against providing funds for regional parties who wished to stand candidates.

[145] Shaun Wright resigned on 16 September 2014, necessitating the 2014 South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner by-election With two candidates, the voting system was first past the post.