Chief constable worked for months after criminal allegation

Commissioner "frustrated" by delay

It took more than four months before Devon and Cornwall chief constable Will Kerr was suspended from duty after a serious criminal allegation was made against him.

Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez says she is "frustrated" it took so long after she was notified of the issue earlier this year.  She referred the allegation to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) on March 23.

But a month later the IOPC said it didn't consider it had the power to look into it. That's likely to be because the alleged offence relates to a time when Mr Kerr was an officer in Northern Ireland. The police force there says it is investigating an accusation of a sexual nature.

The IOPC told Ms Hernandez on 19 July that new information had come to light and asked her to consider resubmitting the referral.  

Five days later she suspended Mr Kerr, who “strenuously denies” the allegations, and re-referred the matter to the IOPC, as it had suggested. This time it accepted the referral. 
 
Commissioner Hernandez said: “My decision-making process regarding suspension has been hampered by a distinct lack of clarity regarding which body was responsible for overseeing a complaint of this nature. 
 
“Coupled with that I have been frustrated by the fact I have yet to be presented with any evidence to support the case made against Mr Kerr. There are lessons here for UK Policing. Police and Crime Commissioners are the appropriate body to make hugely significant decisions in this area, they must be provided with sufficient information to inform these decisions and investigatory bodies should be absolutely clear about their remits and jurisdictions. 
 
“The delays caused in this case are less than ideal for all concerned. I hope now that all agencies will move swiftly to bring this case to a resolution.” 
 
She will address the issue at Devon and Cornwall's police and crime panel, which oversees her work, today.