Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election, set to be held in May, has been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus, the UK Government has announced.

PCC elections take place every four years, however recent developments in the UK with the spread of coronavirus mean that England and Wales’ PCC elections have been postponed until next May.

Gwent’s incumbent Jeff Cuthbert will now remain in his post for an extra year and will instead serve a five-year term.

The announcement comes just two weeks before a notice of election was to be issued in preparation for a PCC election on May 7.

The role of a PCC is to ensure efficient and effective policing within their force area and to hold the chief constable to account for the delivery of the police and crime plan.

The new election date is likely to coincide with the Assembly Member elections for the Welsh Assembly, which are set to take place next May.

Local and mayoral elections in England have also been postponed.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections until May next year.

“We will also work with the devolved administrations to ensure that they have the necessary powers to do the same.”