Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner is considering standing for a third term in office.

Martyn Underhill was first elected to the role in 2012 and is nearing the end of his second four-year term.

He said: "I am still considering my position" as the first candidate was announced.

Businessman Dave Sidwick has been selected as the Conservative candidate.

He was chosen at a meeting at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne, attended by around 100 local Conservative members.

He hopes to take the role for the Conservatives for the first time at the next PCC election in May next year.

Mr Sidwick said his priority is to boost public trust in the police, with a focus on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and ensuring closer working between organisations to improve efficiency and value for money.

He will also lobby for more funding through the strong network of Conservative PCCs across the south of England, with an emphasis on community policing.

"I’m absolutely delighted to be selected and I can’t wait to work hard on behalf of residents across Dorset" said Dave, who has always lived in Dorset and currently lives in Bournemouth with his wife, Ruth.

"The Conservatives are the party of law and order and I’ll be doing everything I can to work with the police, government and other partners to tackle crime and keep people safe, while providing a voice for victims.

"I already have strong links with Dorset MPs, local authorities, community leaders and other PCCs and am looking forward to supporting and championing the police in their work."

Mr Sidwick is well-known across Dorset and has been chairman of the Bournemouth West Conservatives for the past two years.

He has been involved in a range of community and voluntary work and has served as a governor at Bournemouth School for 10 years.

The PCC is responsible for setting the strategic direction and budget for policing across Dorset.

Mike Greene, Dorset deputy chairman for the Conservatives, said: "Dave has a distinguished record in the business world and will be a superb champion for our police and residents in urban and rural communities across the county.

"He is a passionate and determined character and will do his utmost to ensure we have the best possible police service to keep people safe."

Mr Sidwick was the co-founder and managing director of STAC Consultancy Ltd, helping to organise hundreds of clinical education events for more than 17,000 medical professionals across the UK and Europe, until his retirement last year.

He was a therapy director for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, winning a Global President’s Award for innovation, risk-taking and communication, and the creator and secretary of the UCB Foundation, which provided more than £530,000 in grants to more than 1,600 medical professionals.

He was also the joint managing director of Kestrel Ophthalmics and Kestrel Medical and chairman and non-executive director of Health iQ Ltd.