A ROW has erupted just a week before Dorset votes on a new Police and Crime Commissioner after the Home Secretary put her support behind one of the candidates.

The Home Secretary, Conservative MP Theresa May, has released a video supporting Conservative candidate for the PCC position in Dorset, Andrew Graham.

While she has not broken any rules, the act has been described as ‘shameful’ and with a former Dorset Police Federation chairman calling on her to remain neutral in these elections in her role as Home Secretary.

The short one minute video shows May discussing the strengths of Conservative PCC candidates before urging people to vote for Mr Graham.

However, one of the candidates opposing Mr Graham, has said that he has no issue with her putting her support behind her party’s candidate.

And the Conservative Party said it was natural that the Home Secretary, a Conservative politician, was backing the Tory candidate.

Former Dorset Police Federation chairman, Clive Chamberlain, said: “For a Home Secretary to use her position to influence people to vote for another person I believe is not in the spirit of Purdah.

“Party politics shouldn’t enter it. They should do the best for the people of Dorset.

“What I’m saying is that I think the Home Secretary in such a position in terms of being responsible for homeland security should not be using that position to interfere in local elections.

“That demeans the role of Home Secretary. She should be staying neutral. She should be saying nothing or she should be trying to get as many people to vote as possible.”

Current PCC and independent candidate at the upcoming election campaign, Martyn Underhill said: “The role of the Home Secretary and the government is to promote the PCC elections not record a video promoting one candidate, shameful.”

However, UKIP candidate, Lester Taylor, saw no problem with the video.

He said: “Personally if there was a UKIP Home Secretary supporting me, I would say ‘yes please’.”

Mr Graham did not wish to comment on the issue.

Labour candidate Patrick Canavan, also said that he felt that the Home Secretary had ‘stepped out of line’ and that she had disregarded Home Office guidance.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “While the Home Secretary recognises the great work that has been done by PCCs of all party colours across the country, she is a Conservative politician.

"As such it is natural that she believes that fellow Conservatives would make the best PCCs, due to their strong record in driving back office efficiency to keep precept increases low and protect neighbourhood policing.”

This row follows the resignation of the PCC for Devon and Cornwall, Tony Hogg, from the Conservative Party over a lack of publicity for the PCC election by the party.

The elections for the new Police and Crime Commissioner positions around the country will be held on Thursday, May 5.

The PCC is in charge of providing efficient and effective policing for the area they serve with Martin Underhill successful in Dorset in 2012.

The Home Office did not respond to a request for a comment.