The election for Kent’s next police and crime commissioner is just days away - with voters going to the polls on Thursday to decide who should take on the role.

Six candidates are in the frame for the £85,000 job which has been done by Ann Barnes since 2012.

The arguments about whether police commissioners are the right way to provide strategic governance of forces continue but the government has insisted that they are here to stay.

Home Secretary Theresa May said that the concept had increased accountability.

Speaking on a visit to Maidstone, she said: “It has turned out to be absolutely the right thing to do.

"What we see around the country is a much greater ability to recognise that there is somebody directly elected who is responsible for policing in their area and is a local voice.”

Despite this, there are concerns that turnout could be low although most expect it will be higher than the 16% turnout in 2012.

Polls will be open across the county from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, but the result will be declared on Friday, with votes being counted at the main results centre in Dover.

The Supplementary Vote System, which is the system used to elect Mayors, will be used for these elections.

Voters will be asked to select their first and second preferences for PCC, if no candidate gains 50 per cent plus one of the first preference votes, the two candidates with the highest number of first preference votes go forward to a second round of counting.

In the second round of counting, ballots with a first preference for a candidate that did not get into the top two will be reallocated according to the second preference indicated in the ballot paper.

Whichever of the top two candidates has the most votes after these second-preferences have been allocated is declared the winner.

For more information about the candidates click here.