A successful local businessman has been selected as the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate for Dorset.
David Sidwick was chosen at a meeting at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne, attended by around 100 local Conservative members.
He will contest the next PCC election in May 2020, aiming to take the role for the Conservatives for the first time.
David’s number one 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 as the Conservative PCC candidate and I can’t wait to work hard on behalf of residents across Dorset,” said David, who has held a number of senior roles in the healthcare industry.
“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.”
The PCC is responsible for setting the strategic direction and budget for policing across Dorset.
Mike Greene, Dorset area deputy chairman for the Conservatives, said: “David 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.
“I look forward to working with David to secure his election in 2020.”
David was the founder and managing director of STAC Consultancy Ltd, helping to organise hundreds of clinical education events for over 17,000 medical professionals across the UK and Europe, until his retirement last year.
He was a therapy director for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, during his career he won the 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 over 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.
