THE police and crime commissioner for Swindon will not stand for re-election again next year.

Angus Macpherson announced he will step down from the leadership role as police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon in May 2020.

He said: "I have decided not to put myself forward for re-election in May 2020 after serving for two terms as Police and Crime Commissioner for the county.

"As we enter another decade I feel it’s the right time to let another person, with their own energy and vision, continue the good work which I and my office have done so far.

"I have served the people of Wiltshire and Swindon as their PCC for nearly eight years and in that time I have made many changes to Wiltshire Police to improve its efficiency and to make it match fit for the 21st century.

"I believe I have accomplished many of the aims which I set out to achieve within the Police and Crime plan, but there is always more to do and I remain fully committed to my role over the next 12 months."

During his tenure he has faced challenges such as county lines gangs, the Salisbury nerve agent attack in 2018, and even calls for the PCC position to be scrapped.

Last year he criticised the government's funding formula for giving Wiltshire a small budget, despite an increase in crime since 2010. In February, after a public consultation, he hiked local council tax via the police precept to pay for 41 more frontline officers.