Martyn Underhill

In July 2000, he was the Detective Inspector on Highdown Division who dealt with the disappearance of missing child Sarah Payne, who went missing in Littlehampton on the evening of 1 July.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1348483/Police-fear-Sarah-may-be-dead-as-search-goes-on.html|title=Police fear Sarah may be dead as search goes on|last=Sapsted|first=David|date=14 July 2000|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=9 April 2012}} Detective Inspector Underhill was appointed as the Deputy SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) of the enquiry, which became a murder investigation after a body was found near Pulborough on 17 July and identified as that of Sarah Payne the following day. Underhill remained on the investigation until Roy Whiting{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1701742.stm|title=Whiting guilty of Sarah murder|date=12 December 2001|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 April 2012}} was convicted of Sarah Payne's murder in December 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He then became Project Manager of Child Rescue Alert, piloting it into Sussex Police in 2002. This alert system is based on Megan's Law{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5091530.stm |title=UK | UK Politics | Minister examines 'Megan's Law' |publisher=BBC News |date=18 June 2006 |access-date=9 April 2012}} in America. Underhill later took this to the Association of Chief Officers (ACPO) Homicide Working Group to ask for the pilot to be introduced nationally, which was achieved by 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Community/Family/article/1547/child-rescue-alert-scheme-launched.html |title=Child Rescue Alert scheme launched |publisher=The Courier |date=5 July 2010 |access-date=9 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919080816/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Community/Family/article/1547/child-rescue-alert-scheme-launched.html |archive-date=19 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }} Underhill was also an adviser [for one day] in the case of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, who were abducted and murdered.{{cite web|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/archive/2002/08/07/The+Argus+Archive/6754653.Sarah_police_aid_hunt_for_girls/ |title=Sarah police aid hunt for girls (From The Argus) |publisher=Theargus.co.uk |date=7 August 2002 |access-date=9 April 2012}} He then moved to the Training Department in Sussex Police, having qualified as a police trainer, assessor and verifier. On retirement he moved to Dorset.{{cite web|url=http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/localnews/5050885.Sarah_Payne_case_cop_backs_paedophile_law_for_Dorset/ |title=Sarah Payne case cop backs paedophile law for Dorset (From Dorset Echo) |publisher=Dorsetecho.co.uk |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=9 April 2012}} Underhill went on to campaign for safeguarding issues, including Sarah's Law, which was introduced into Dorset in October 2011. Underhill became the Laymember on his Local Safeguarding Children's Board,{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9598697.SARAH_S_LAW__Detective_says_single_mothers_most_vulnerable_from_predatory_paedophiles/ |title=SARAH'S LAW: Detective says single mothers most vulnerable from predatory paedophiles (From Bournemouth Echo) |publisher=Bournemouthecho.co.uk |date=19 March 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012}} as well as becoming a trustee for the Bournefree charity.{{cite web |url=http://www.bournefree.co.uk/mainsite/?page_id=306 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808050625/http://www.bournefree.co.uk/mainsite/?page_id=306 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2011 |title=Bourne Free – Bournemouth's Pride Festival |publisher=Bournefree.co.uk |access-date=9 April 2012 }} He was a visiting lecturer at Bournemouth University for the School of Applied Science.{{cite web|url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1svix/ScienceampTechnology/resources/11.htm |title=Science & Technology Investigator – June 2011 |publisher=Content.yudu.com |access-date=9 April 2012}}

He is now a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Bournemouth University.

In July 2011, Underhill reported to Operation Weeting that he thought his police phone had been hacked during the Sarah Payne murdercase. Underhill was initially contacted by a source at The Sun newspaper warning him of how they were in possession of information from a reliable source alleging an inappropriate relationship between Underhill and Sara Payne during the investigation. {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14347758 |title=BBC News – Former police officer in Payne case alleges hacking |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=9 April 2012}}

In February 2012, Underhill declared himself as an Independent candidate for the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner role.{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9567926.print/ |title=Keep politics out of policing says former detective chief inspector Martyn Underhill (From Bournemouth Echo) |publisher=Bournemouthecho.co.uk |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012}} In April 2012, Underhill launched his electoral campaign as Keep Politics out of Policing and won the election, becoming Dorset's first ever PCC.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-20344291|title=Dorset PCC: Sarah Payne detective Martyn Underhill wins|date=16 November 2012|publisher=BBC News|access-date=16 November 2012}}

In 2013, as Dorset PCC, Underhill was one of three PCC's nominated by their peers to review the role and remit of the Association of Chief Police Officers. The other PCC's who worked with him were Jane Kennedy and Matthew Ellis. The trio commissioned General Parker to review the organisation. His review{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24945596|title = Acpo overhaul needed, says general's report for PCCs| work=BBC News | date=14 November 2013 |access-date = 2016-04-06}} recommended substantial changes, including the transition to a new organisation called the National Police Chiefs Council. The trio formed the "ACPO Transition Board" to achieve the changes{{Cite web|url=http://www.apccs.police.uk/press_release/implementation-board-launched-wake-parker-review-acpo/|title=Implementation board launched in wake of Parker Review of ACPO - The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners|website=The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-06}} working with senior officers from ACPO, the Home Office, MOPAC and the College of Policing. The PCC's appointed Sir Bill Jeffrey as Chair of the Transition Board. This led to the creation of the National Police Chiefs Council formally in April 2015. The first ever Chair{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30277356|title=Sara Thornton to lead National Police Chiefs' Council|work=BBC News |date=December 2014 |access-date=2016-04-06}} was Sara Thornton.

In 2014, Underhill became the first PCC nationally to formally commission the charity Victim Support to provide victim services in his area.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/crime/11511825.PCC_Martyn_Underhill_takes_control_of_Victim_Support_services/?ref=rss|title=PCC Martyn Underhill takes control of Victim Support services|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=3 October 2014 |access-date=2016-04-06}}

In July 2015, Underhill announced that he would stand as a candidate in the following year's police and crime commissioner elections.{{cite web |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13499374.dorsets-pcc-to-stand-for-re-election-next-year/ |title=Dorset's PCC to stand for re-election next year |last=Reader |first=Jane |newspaper=Bournemouth Echo |date=25 July 2015 |access-date=21 March 2021}} His election manifesto was announced on 30 March 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14391191.Martyn_Underhill_____I___d_resist_any_attempt_to_give_all_police_firearms___/|title=Martyn Underhill: "I'd resist any attempt to give all police firearms"|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=30 March 2016 |access-date=2016-04-10}}

On 6 May, Underhill was re-elected as police and crime commissioner. He received 38% of the first preference votes, and was elected after the second preference votes were counted, when no candidates received more than 50% of first preference votes.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-35996018|title=Dorset PCC election: Martyn Underhill secures second term|publisher=BBC News|date=6 May 2016}} The election turnout was 23%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-35996018|title=Police commissioner secures second term|date=2016-05-06|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-12|language=en-GB}}

In December 2019, Underhill announced that he will not stand for re-election in 2020,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-50834739|title=Dorset PCC will not stand for re-election|date=2019-12-18|access-date=2019-12-23|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=http://lyme-online.co.uk/news/dorset/police-and-crime-commissioner-will-not-seek-re-election/|title=Police and Crime Commissioner will not seek re-election|last=Evans|first=Francesca|website=lyme-online.co.uk|date=20 December 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-23}} but due to the COVID-19 pandemic he stood until the delayed election in 2021.{{cite news |url=https://lyme-online.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-retiring-police-and-crime-commissioner/ |title=Tributes paid to retiring Police and Crime Commissioner |last=Bevins |first=Trevor |website=LymeOnline |date=16 February 2021 |access-date=21 March 2021}} He was succeeded by Conservative David Sidwick.{{Cite web|title=Tory candidate David Sidwick appointed Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19288126.local-elections-2021-david-sidwick-elected-dorset-pcc/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=7 May 2021 |language=en}}

On 11 August 2023, his 39 year old son Benjamin Jon Underhill died following a severe head injury after exiting a moving car in Wimborne Minster.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-23 |title='Loving son and father' dies after falling from moving car |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23738750.former-dorset-pccs-son-dies-exiting-moving-car/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}

Underhill was made {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}} in the 2022 New Year Honours.{{Cite web|title=New Year's Honours: Meet the people recognised for their work in Dorset|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19818748.revealed-dorset-residents-honoured-queen-2022/|access-date=2022-01-02|website=Bournemouth Echo|date=2 January 2022 |language=en}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.jtconsulting.org.uk Official website]

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire