A MINI-feud has erupted between Dorset's past and current police and crime commissioners.

The row comes after current commissioner David Sidwick called for cannabis to be reclassified as a Class A drug and backed calls for random drug testing for criminals in probation hostels.

In an interview with the Echo, Mr Sidwick said the issue of drug crime had "never really been spoken about" under his predecessor Martyn Underhill - saying Mr Underhill's police and crime plan was, in his opinion, a "social workers' charter."

He also said some 'misguided' politicians "seemed to be swayed by the entrepreneurship of drugs rather than, as they should be, the impact on communities".

Mr Underhill, now a senior lecturer at Bournemouth University, hit back and said the issue should be left to experts.

He said: "Sadly, David is one of those (Conservative party members) who believes “locking everybody up” is the solution.

"Remember he was previously a pharmaceutical sales rep, not a scientist!

"I have always believed we should try another way to deal with substance misuse. The lack of state intervention with alcohol abuse and the criminalisation of drug use are both approaches that haven't worked for decades. There has to be another way.

"I suggest he leaves substance abuse to the experts, and worries more about the appalling electoral result in Christchurch (last week), which mirrors the public’s view of his party locally and nationally."

As well as calling for cannabis to be reclassified, the current commissioner said he backed proposals touted by the Government that would see ex-prisoners at probation hostels randomly tested for 14 different drugs.

He said: "One of the biggest problems we have is how easy it is for our prison population to slip back into their habits and the more wrap-around interventions we can do to prevent that, then, the better.

"It's part of a whole swathe of interventions to ensure positive outcomes - getting back into employment, getting housing and staying away from those old habits.

"To have random testing in a probation setting, there is a lot to be said for that because you can pick up where people are falling off before further offences are committed."

A key focus, Mr Sidwick says, should be on prevention.

He explained: "There is virtually no, apart from a few passionate charities, messaging about prevention - I know there are apartment blocks in Dorset where people's lives are being made by one or two residents smoking weed and puffing it across the building. It's having a serious impact and we need to address it."