Scandal-hit police force asks for emergency funds to pay suspended chief constables’ salaries

A scandal-hit police force has been forced to ask the Government for emergency funding to pay three chief constable salaries at the same time.

Devon and Cornwall Police made the request to the Home Office last month after a second chief constable was suspended in as many years.

The force is still reeling from the allegations levelled against Chief Constable Will Kerr, who was suspended in July 2023 after an investigation was opened into “serious allegations of sexual offences” in Northern Ireland, which he denies.

He was replaced by Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell.

However, Mr Colwell was suspended last month after the Independent Office for Police Conduct announced it was investigating potential gross misconduct “in respect of his use of a work issue mobile phone to exchange messages of a personal nature without a policing purpose” and “alleged conduct concerning a force disciplinary matter”.

James Vaughan, the former Dorset Police chief constable, has now been appointed as the new acting chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, meaning that the force is paying its highest individual salary three times instead of one.

The role comes with a salary of about £180,000.

Alison Hernandez, the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner, has now written to the Home Office requesting a special grant to cover the costs.

Steve Race, the MP for Exeter, said: “I think we’re in a bit of a mess at the moment. We’ve got a police force that’s failing on at least four out of eight measures.

“We’re now on our second acting chief constable – that means we’re paying for three chief constables all at the same time, which is not great value for money.

“I’ve had real questions about both the operational leadership and the political leadership of Devon and Cornwall Police.

“We’ve got to get it right this time because people across Devon and Cornwall rely on the police.”

Ms Hernandez has defended her decision to suspend Mr Colwell.

‘One of the things I have to consider before I suspend is a public interest test in terms of, does this affect the confidence of policing, is there an element that would make it untenable for the chief constable to continue, these are all considerations I have to make,’ she told the BBC.

‘It was an extremely difficult decision. It was something I didn’t take lightly.’

The PCC added that she had been sent a lot of correspondence stating she was the issue and should resign.

‘I’m not quite sure when a man’s had allegations made about them why it becomes a woman’s problem,’ she said.

‘If I get allegations brought before me with evidence I have to make a decision on that.

‘I’m doing my job.’

Mr Kerr’s appointment as chief constable followed a glittering career in policing, including leading on serious crime and counter terrorism in his native Northern Ireland and being elected as a European delegate to Interpol’s executive committee.

In October 2022, the force was placed under an enhanced level of monitoring by the police inspectorate for its handling of violent and sexual offenders in communities. However, this was eased last January.

Friends of Mr Colwell have described him as “straight as they come”