A YEAR after winning an election in which just 16.77 per cent of Dorset residents voted, Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill believes he has made ‘good progress’ in helping people understand his role.

Mr Underhill, who was the first choice candidate of 44 per cent of the 98,679 people who did vote, said he believes a third of residents now understand the role of PCCs.

“I’m not there yet,” he said. “I’ve still two thirds to reach but more people know now who the PCC is than they did a year ago.”

The move to replace police authorities with elected commissioners was a controversial one but Mr Underhill believes it has worked. “The police authority used to get 300 letters a year,” he said. “I received 300 letters in my first week.

He said his first year successes included an eight per cent reduction in crime, an increase in the number of criminals being caught and lifting the recruitment freeze that had been in place for several years.

He also secured the future of Dorset Police’s marine section, got an additional police helicopter, sought extra resources for the non-emergency 101 service, launched Dorset Victims’ Bureau and doubled the amount of volunteers working with the force.

“We’re bringing the public into policing,” he said. “Wherever I go in Dorset people tell me they like police community support officers.

“To keep all 155 PCSOs with £10million of cuts means losing officers, but they engage with the community.”

New initiatives in the pipeline include trialling bodycams, which he believes will help the police gain vital evidence.

Mr Underhill added: “I get very frustrated at my lack of legal powers in relation to police complaints. I have to pass them to the police, which is a very unsatisfactory situation.”

Still ‘negativity’ from officers


HE may only be one year into his role but Mr Underhill has already decided to stand for re-election in May 2016.

“I feel like I’m raising a child and that child hasn’t grown up yet,” he said.

“We’ve still got so much to do and I’m excited by that so yes I will stand again.

“It has taken over my life.

“Before the election I was a semi-retired consultant and a house-husband, now I am working every hour God sends.

“I love doing it but it does put a lot of pressure on my partner.

“I’m humbled every week by something I see or by a member of the public who has had a bad service.”

He said he had a ‘healthy, professional relationship’ with the chief constable but was aware of ‘some negativity’ from police officers themselves.

“They’ve had a hard time and the police officers feel like they’re being attacked on all fronts by the Government,” he said.

“I’ve had some good interactions and some negative.”