The £1.7million of reserve funds held by the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner's office has been queried.

Police and Crime Panel members have asked what Commissioner David Sidwick's proposals are for the treasure chest of cash.

"What plans are in place to use some of this taxpayer's funds in the year?" asked committee chairman Mike Short at a Police and Crime Panel meeting.

Mr Sidwick said some of the money is likely to be used for pump-priming a range of projects; to help appoint staff with specialist skills with an allocation of just over £1million set aside for the Police and Crime Plan, some of which will be used to start a violence reduction unit.

He said this was something which the government was not prepared to fund for Dorset, as it is seen as having low levels of violent crime.

He said his plans were to start the unit in the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council area, in partnership with the unitary council, and then to spread its work across the rest of the county. It will include working with young people to reduce knife crime.

"While it looks like I am holding onto the money and not spending it I am certain we will be spending it as soon as I can get that off the ground, and I will be looking to have significant meetings in September and October to do that," he commented.