Devon and Cornwall Police need emergency cash to pay three Chief Constable salaries after scandals

Devon and Cornwall Police have asked the Home Office for emergency funds to pay three salaries each costing around £180,000 a year. The force have suspended two Chief Constables since July 2023 and are seeking funding to pay the salaries of these suspended Chief Constables and the new interim Chief Constable James Vaughan, a total cost likely to be well in excess of £500,000.

According to The Telegraph the Chief Constable role commands a salary of roughly £180k a year, meaning it would cost at least £540,000 to pay for all three of them simultaneously, as Devon and Cornwall Police must do. The BBC has reported that former Chief Constable Will Kerr, currently under investigation, is on a salary of £197k, or £16,400 a month.

Speaking to The Telegraph, MP for Exeter Steve Dance said he had "real questions" about the leadership of the force: "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.”

A spokesperson for Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez told The Telegraph: "She’s getting hacked off with politicians stating that this is somehow her fault. We have a situation where these men were accused of improper conduct and she, a woman, has taken action, yet she is getting the blame.”

Chief Constable Will Kerr was suspended in July 2023. A criminal investigation was launched the same year by the Police Ombudsmen for Northern Ireland for "serious allegations of sexual offences", which Kerr denies.

Kerr was replaced with Acting Police Constable Jim Colwell, who was himself suspended 14 months later. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said ACC Colwell had been accused of using a work mobile phone "to exchange messages of a personal nature without a policing purpose".

Just a few days ago on Friday, December 13, Ms Hernandez announced James Vaughan, who received the Queen's Police Medal in the 2018 New Year's Honours, had been appointed as interim Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police. Vaughan said: "I am honoured to have been appointed as interim Chief Constable.

"This is not a role I take lightly, and I would like to reassure the residents of our two counties that I am committed to leading Devon & Cornwall Police in delivering a police force we can all be proud of."

Commissioner Hernandez commented: "I am delighted to be working with an experienced Chief Constable who will lead the force to drive improvements during this challenging period.

"Mr Vaughan has held numerous senior posts in policing and has a track record of performance improvement. This appointment will therefore be welcome news and we can now forge ahead with ensuring our communities remain safe, resilient, and connected."