A WAR of words has broken out between Dorset’s police and crime commissioner and the county’s Conservative party.

With less than 100 days to go before the elections, incumbent Martyn Underhill is currently the only declared candidate for the role.

The PCC, who will be vying for re-election on May 5 this year, has accused the county’s political parties - and in particular the Tories - of appearing to be “ill-prepared and in chaos”.

But Bournemouth councillor Mike Greene, who is involved in the Conservative party’s selection process, has accused Mr Underhill of “political posturing” ahead of the vote.

The current PCC said: “By this time in 2012, the Tories were delivering leaflets and campaign - this time they can’t even choose my opponent.

“It’s not as if they haven’t had time. We have known this election was coming for nearly four years.

“In other areas they declared their Tory candidate four months ago. And then there is Labour – they say they are standing, but they still haven’t nominated anyone either.

“By the time the political parties get their candidates declared, the opportunity to debate the policies and manifestos will be gone. If you compare the position nationally, the political parties in Dorset stand out as ill prepared and in chaos.”

He also had words for one of his main critics, Ian Belchamber, who has campaigned to remove the PCC on the grounds of alleged corruption and police waste.

“He now has the chance to pursue his unfounded allegations and I look forward to seeing him declare soon as well,” he said.

The Conservatives claim a “rush of interest” from prospective candidates has delayed their selection process.

Cllr Greene said: “Mr Underhill seems to know more about what’s going on within the Conservative party in Dorset than the chairman of the Conservative party in Dorset.

“What this goes to show is that Mr Underhill - far from being apolitical, as he claims to be - is a particularly political creature. It shows that he has concentrated much more on the prospect of his own re-election and promoting his own overinflated offices and office staff than he has on doing the job.”