19 Facts About Ron Ball

Ron Ball did not contest the 2016 election for the post, and was succeeded by Philip Seccombe of the Conservative Party.

Ron Ball was born in 1950 in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, England, and educated at Birmingham's Central Grammar School.

Ron Ball went on to study engineering at Southampton University, helping with the construction of Spaghetti Junction during his summer breaks from study.

Ron Ball trained at the Hamble College of Air Training then joined British European Airways as an airline pilot.

Ron Ball spent 31 years with BEA, and its successor, British Airways, rising to the position of Captain, and helping to design motivational courses for newly promoted Captains.

Ron Ball was a union official with the British Airline Pilots' Association.

Ron Ball retired from BA in 2005, but returned to the airline industry as a pilot with Global Supply Systems in 2007, flying Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.

Ron Ball retired from aviation in 2012 to stand as a Police Commissioner.

Ron Ball stood as an independent candidate in Warwickshire in the United Kingdom's first elections for Police and Crime Commissioners on 15 November 2012, deciding to seek election because he believed the post should be non-political.

Ron Ball's manifesto promised a "common sense" approach to policing, and in his election statement he said that his objective would be to reduce crime and disorder in Warwickshire.

Ron Ball criticised comments made by the former Chief Constable of Warwickshire, Peter Joslin who urged voters to boycott the elections, calling them "irresponsible".

Ron Ball's election made him the Police and Crime Commissioner of England's smallest police force.

Ron Ball announced plans to improve the quality of local policing throughout the county, which he described as "patchy", and recruit more special constables.

Ron Ball said that although this was one of several options being discussed going forward, nothing would happen during his term in office, and he personally had an "emotional preference" for smaller police forces.

Ron Ball announced that official meetings between himself and the Chief Constable would be open to the public, giving Warwickshire residents the opportunity to gain some insight into the working of their police force.

Nobody was prosecuted over the incident in April 2012 because there was found to be insufficient evidence to bring a case, and although operational matters are generally not the responsibility of a Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Ball asked for the review as he felt the event was a matter for public concern.

In October 2015 Ron Ball announced that he would not be standing for re-election in 2016.

Ron Ball's comments led to media speculation that senior police officers could have interfered with the investigation.

Ron Ball made an appearance on the BBC's Newsnight on 16 October 2013, in which he spoke about the affair.