DORSET’S independent police and crime commissioner candidate has been investigated by police over a complaint that he broke election law.

Martyn Underhill, inset, was spoken to by a detective from Dorset Police after a complaint was made to the election’s returning officer on Friday.

The allegation is that a letter from Bournemouth landlord Dave Wells, who is backing Mr Underhill’s campaign, did not carry the name and addresses of the printer, promoter and who it is being published for – known as the imprint.

Mr Underhill says the letter of support was posted to residents with one of his campaign leaflets.

Paul Morris, Borough of Poole returning officer responsible for the PCC elections, said: “We received a complaint that one letter relating to his campaign has been circulated without the proper imprint.”

He added that in the scheme of things the offence was “minor” but the matter had been referred to the police as it has to by law.

Martyn Underhill, a former Sussex Police chief who led the Sarah Payne murder investigation, said: “I was spoken to by an officer in relation to breaking election law. I didn’t realise that both pieces of paper in the envelope had to have an imprint on. It was a genuine mistake and we move on.”

He said he was offered “words of advice” and the matter had been sorted.

Dorset Police said yesterday they were unable to comment on this matter at the time the Echo went to press.

Mr Underhill is one of four candidates standing in the PCC elections on November 15. The other candidates are Rachel Rogers, Labour; Andy Canning, Liberal Democrat; and Nick King, Conservative.

  • The candidates will be blogging for the Bournemouth Echo in the run up to the election. Read the blogs and introductory posts at bournemouthecho.co.uk/pcc.