David Sidwick has been confirmed as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset.

The declaration was made today, Friday 7 May, by Graham Farrant, Police Area Returning Officer, following Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Conservative party candidate David Sidwick will take up office as Police and Crime Commissioner on Thursday 13 May, following the retirement of incumbent Martyn Underhill, who became the county’s first Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012.

Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan said: ‘I would like to offer my heart felt congratulations to David Sidwick. My colleagues and I stand ready to support him in any way we can.

‘We look forward to a productive relationship with our new PCC and will be ready to assist them in the development and delivery of a new Police and Crime Plan.’

A police and crime commissioner is an elected official whose job is to oversee the police and hold it to  account over the delivery of the force’s police and crime plan.