Name and shame tactics used by Dorset Police has split members of the county’s police and crime panel.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill admitted he had second thoughts about the idea after a relative wrote to tell him that a family member had threatened suicide after being named in a newspaper as one of the people convicted of a drink-drive offence.

Mr Underhill told the county’s police and crime panel that he challenged the police ‘quite robustly’ over their policy.

Mr Underhill said the force had a duty of care, irrespective of an offence being committed.

“I am not asking them to change. I’m asking them to justify what they do,” he said.

The Commissioner said that as a result of his intervention, the police have agreed to investigate if they need to carry out a risk assessment on the likely effect of naming people accused of offences.

Mr Underhill said he had been told the Echo front page which bore the names and pictures of drink drivers had been the most widely read online.

He added that it was a balance between the effects of being named and shamed in public and keeping people safe from drunk and drugged drivers by deterring those who might take the risk.

Cllr Janet Dover said she did not like the name and shame policy, saying: “I am really concerned about how it’s being operated by the force, but I understand that it’s down to the force, not the crime commissioner.”

But fellow councillor Don Smith said he supported the tactic.

“If they treat the law with contempt and put other people’s lives at risk then it’s fine by me,” he said.

Dorset Police say they only issue the details of offences after someone has been convicted of an offence.

A force spokesman said: “College of Policing professional practice guides us we name on charge, and in this case, upon conviction of an adult.

“We have never, and indeed will not, name upon arrest related to drink drivers or any other crime.

“The pictures are released upon conviction at court and never before that point.”

The Dorset Echo reported in august the results of a Dorset police summer drink-drive crackdown, with photographs of those convicted and details of the offences. The naming and shaming of individuals is something that is promoted by Dorset police in a bid to get the message out that drink driving will not be tolerated.