SURREY Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Munro has lost a secret ballot against his automatic reselection as the Conservative party candidate at the next PCC elections in May 2020.

At a behind-closed-doors meeting last Friday, former Farnham councillor Mr Munro appeared in front of Tory party members to seek renomination as PCC. He spoke for five minutes and took questions for a further 20 minutes, in accordance with the party rules set at national level for the conduct of PCC elections.

At the end of the session, members present held a secret ballot and 37 voted against David’s automatic reselection with 30 voting in favour. There will now be a full reselection process, with Mr Munro, who is two years into his four year term, entitled to a place on the final shortlist.

Julian Ellacott, chairman of Surrey Conservatives, confirmed the meeting took place in East Horsley and that all Conservative party members in Surrey were invited, by email or letter. However, chairman of the Surrey Police and Crime Panel Ken Harwood claimed he was not made aware of the vote beforehand, and it is unknown why a majority of members present at the meeting voted against Mr Munro.

Mr Ellacott said: “As it was a secret ballot it is impossible to know the reasons for individual members voting as they did. Before the vote members were free to ask questions of David, which they did, on a range of topics relating to local crime and policing. The members were also aware that by not approving David automatically he would still be eligible to be part of the open selection process.”

Mr Munro, who ousted outspoken independent Kevin Hurley as PCC in 2016, said in a statement: “I am naturally disappointed by this outcome but I can confirm I will still be seeking renomination for a second term. I believe that, working with residents and the police themselves, we have achieved much in Surrey in the last two years: stabilising the force’s finances, dramatically improving the police’s responses to calls for help, transforming the police’s response to vulnerable victims, increasing the number of police officers on the front line and bearing down on crimes such as burglary and child exploitation.

“There is more to do of course. While public confidence in Surrey Police remains sky-high, and deservedly so, some crimes are rising and the force’s response to crimes such as cyber-fraud and those requiring complex detective work need more focus.

“I would like to be given the opportunity of further improving Surrey Police’s service to residents. I’ll be working hard firstly to make my case for party reselection and then to win at the May 2020 elections. I hope people can support me in this.”

Responding, Ken Harwood, chairman of the Surrey Police and Crime Panel, an elected body whose role is to examine the actions and decisions of Surrey’s PCC, confirmed that he was only made aware of the ballot afterwards.

“I only got to hear about this meeting via a third party, so I don’t think that it was widely publicised,” he told the Herald.

Pat Frost, Waverley’s representative on the panel and a long-time Farnham town and borough council colleague of Mr Munro’s, added: “I really don’t have much to say as I was not at the re-nomination meeting – another long standing engagement. I am sorry that David has lost the Conservative nomination as I know this particular job was very dear to his heart and he has worked very hard in the role. I do wish him well in the future.”