Conservative candidate David Sidwick has been elected as the new Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner.

He received 70,353 votes.

In second place was independent Dan Hardy who received 43,427 votes.

The result was announced this evening following counts in the Dorset Council and BCP areas.

28 per cent of people in the Dorset Council area turned out to vote in the Dorset PCC election.

Bournemouth businessman Mr Sidwick will replace Martyn Underhill, the independent who had held the role since 2012, after he decided against standing for re-election.

Second preference votes were required to to decide between Mr Sidwick and Mr Hardy after neither managed to secure 50% of the total first choices.

Green Party candidate Clare Seymour came in third place, followed by Liberal Democrat Mark Robson and the Labour Party candidate Patrick Canavan.

Mr Sidwick said he would "work tirelessly" to cut crime and anti-social behaviour and deliver on his pre-election pledges.

"This has been a long campaign but ultimately a fruitful one," he said. "I'm very humbled to have been chosen to take on this role.

"It's now up to me to walk the talk and tackle the issues we are seeing across the county head-on.

"I will improve the collaboration and co-operation between the office and MPs, councils and other organisations to make sure we deal with the issues that really matter to people."

The final total was: 

David Sidwick (Conservative): 70,353 (combined first and second preferences)

Dan Hardy (independent): 43,427 (combined first and second preferences)

Claire Seymour (Green): 21,283 (first preferences)

Mark Robson (Lib Dem): 17,837 (first preferences)

Patrick Canavan (Labour): 16,379 (first preferences)

 

* Additional reporting by Josh Wright