THE race to become Dorset’s first elected police commissioner is about to get underway.

With just 10 months to go until county residents go to the polls and vote for an elected police chief, people have started throwing their hats into the ring.

Whoever wins the poll will be paid between £65,000 and £100,000 a year and will replace the Dorset Police Authority.

They will hold the post for four years and will have responsibility for drawing up a policing plan, setting the policing budget and appointing a chief constable.

Both the Conservatives and the Labour Party are in the process of inviting potential candidates to put their names forward. They will then embark on a shortlisting process.

One of those hoping to stand is Nick King, a Conservative councillor for Bournemouth and member of the Dorset Police Authority.

He said: “I think it’s fantastic that for the first time there will be direct democratic involvement in the way the police are run.

“At the moment if you go out on the street and ask somebody who runs the police, virtually nobody knows about the police authority.

“Now there will be a figure there that is identifiable as the person who has responsibility for policing and dealing with crime.”

Leader of Dorset County Council Cllr Angus Campbell said he had formally thrown his hat into the ring.

“I just feel that it would be a fascinating challenge.

“It’s the fact that it joins up the whole of Dorset together. It’s a pan-Dorset position which I think is hugely important.

“I can understand the misgivings around the idea but the important thing is to get the correct balance of mutual respect.”

The Liberal Democrats have not yet decided whether they will field a candidate but Cllr Janet Dover, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Dorset County Council, said: “I think it’s important to have as wide a spectrum of candidates as possible for the people for Dorset to consider.

“The running of Dorset Police is a key position, if not the most important position in the county.” A long-standing member of Dorset Police Authority, she said she would consider standing for the role if asked.

“I would have to give it serious consideration,” she said. “But at this moment in time I have not been asked and I may not ever be.”

Others ruling themselves out include Bournemouth Cllr David Smith. He said he had thought about it but rejected the idea because he didn’t agree with the policy of elected police commissioners.

Former Poole councillor Don Collier also ruled himself out.

It’s also been suggested that Dorset’s former Chief Constable Jane Stichbury could stand as an independent candidate.