Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner has branded the government’s promotion of PCC elections a ‘shambles’ in response to a critical report.

In the May elections, which saw Mr Underhill retain his post, just 22.54 per cent of those eligible cast their vote.

Although this was an increase of almost six per cent on 2012’s turnout, it still falls below the UK’s overall turnout of 27.3 per cent.

The Electoral Commission’s report on the May 5 vote, released on September 7, found more than 70 per cent of people who responded to a survey said they knew very little or nothing at all about the PCC elections.

When asked whether they had enough information to understand the role of the PCC, just over half said that they didn’t.

Mr Underhill, said: “I was really pleased to see the turnout in Dorset increase during this year’s election, reflecting more awareness of the role. However, the way the government promoted the elections was quite frankly a shambles and I am pleased the Electoral Commission report highlights that.

“In the run up to the election, I lobbied the Cabinet Office for every resident to receive a candidate information booklet, however this fell on deaf ears.

“It is a real challenge for all candidates, especially independent candidates, to reach such a large electorate by conventional means.

“Sadly, if the past is anything to go by, the government will largely ignore these Electoral Commission recommendations and damage democracy as a result.”

Andrew Scallan, director of electoral administration at the Electoral Commission, said: “Voters have consistently told us that they do not have the information they need ahead of these elections to make an informed decision about who to vote for.”

The key recommendations made by the commission to the government include ensuring voters receive an information booklet ahead of future PCC elections, change the way instructions appear on the ballot paper and develop an online system allowing voters to check whether they are already registered to vote.