Police officers sacked or disciplined for sharing abusive and offensive messages on social media have been appropriately punished, according to the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.

David Sidwick said there would be no place in the county's police force for such behaviour.

"There is no place in Dorset Police for anybody who is racist, sexist or homophobic: I expect, as the Dorset public do, that Dorset Police officers are held to the highest standard," he told a recent meeting of the Dorset Police and Crime Panel.

Mr Sidwick said that he welcomed what he described as "the clear leadership" shown by the force over the investigation and disciplinary hearings, and the apology offered by the deputy chief constable to the public saying that the officers had let people down.

Said Mr Sidwick: "Not only did they let themselves down, they let the public down and also their colleagues."

He said he would welcome any further actions to investigate unethical or unacceptable behaviour within the force ranks, adding: "I continue to encourage members of the public to report any experiences of wrong-doing, or a falling in standards of officers, to Dorset Police."

Mr Sidwick said he had sought reassurances from the Chief Constable on the vetting of new recruits and officers being transferred to the Dorset force and has also asked for force-issued IT equipment to be monitored, with software now in place to do so.

"While the Chief Constable and I will be everything we can to stop similar cases arising in the future... the fact remains that… because human beings are flawed there will always be some who have biases and prejudices," he added.

"As we go forward I am satisfied that whatever may come we will dealt with correctly for the people of Dorset."

The meeting heard that, in the past three months, no Dorset officers or other staff members had failed the re-vetting process, which forces across the country had been undertaking.