Devon and Cornwall spent £63,913 monthly to pay three chiefs due to suspensions and investigations.
Devon and Cornwall had three chiefs at once. Will Kerr is the real Chief Constable, but he’s now suspended while they investigate him for possible crimes.
Jim Colwell was Acting Chief Constable and is suspended too, due to misconduct allegations. James Vaughan is now Interim Chief Constable, having taken over in December.
The £63,913 monthly cost occurred for three months, when all three chiefs were in their roles simultaneously. As the Acting Chief Constable went back to his old job as Deputy Chief Constable, costs should reduce from February 2025.
They asked the Home Office for money to help cover the extra expenses. The annual accounts have detailed cost information and show how they calculated the totals.
Police commissioners lack investigation powers, meaning they must report serious issues. The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigates, as commissioners cannot handle police misconduct probes themselves.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, is not happy and is frustrated with the delays. The investigation against Will Kerr is taking too long, and she wants it resolved quickly. Paying two chief salaries is not good, and she wants strong leadership for the police force.
Alison Hernandez wants more power because currently, commissioners can’t investigate chiefs, and she wants to change that. She will write to the Home Secretary, as she believes commissioners should control investigations. She wants the government to give them these powers.