PCC defends suspension of acting police chief

The decision to suspend the acting chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police was "extremely difficult", Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has said.

Ms Hernandez said Jim Colwell was suspended on Wednesday over alleged "professional standards breaches", with his suspension announced the following day.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said Mr Colwell had been served with a gross misconduct notice over allegations he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature".

Ms Hernandez acknowledged there had been calls from the public for her to resign but she added: "I'm doing my job."

She said Mr Colwell had seven days to "make representations to me relating to his suspension".

"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 said.

"I also have to consider whether or not he can be deployed into another role.

"Some of these things are still available that I'm considering in this seven-day grace period.

"It was an extremely difficult decision. It was something I didn't take lightly."

Mr Colwell had been leading the force in place of Chief Constable Will Kerr, who was suspended in July 2023 over sexual allegations.

The suspensions of Mr Colwell and Mr Kerr were not related, Ms Hernandez said.

The police and crime commissioner added: "It's quite interesting I've had quite a lot of correspondence to me personally and to my office trying to make out I'm the problem and I should resign.

"I'm not quite sure when a man's had allegations made about them why it becomes a woman's problem.

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

"I'm doing my job."

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