Home Secretary concerned over leadership of force

The Home Secretary has said she has "concerns" about leadership issues at Devon and Cornwall Police.

Yvette Cooper responded to a question in Parliament from Camborne and Redruth MP Perran Moon about the force following the departure of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Kingscote last week.

Ms Cooper said she was aware of this along with the suspensions of Chief Constable Will Kerr and Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell.

Devon and Cornwall PCC Alison Hernandez said her team had worked hard to ensure the force had an experienced chief constable and a strong police and crime plan.

Mr Kingscote resigned from his role after five months due to "personal circumstances", Ms Hernandez said in a statement on 7 January.

His departure followed the suspensions of Mr Kerr, who is being investigated over serious allegations of sexual offences, and Mr Colwell for alleged professional standards breaches.

In December, James Vaughan - the former Chief Constable of Dorset Police - was appointed as Devon and Cornwall's interim chief constable.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Mr Vaughan said it was his "focus and priority" to improve performance and raise public confidence.

He added: "What I've said to the workforce, and what I've said to the public in Devon and Cornwall, is to judge me by my actions.

"No amount of fine words will reassure people, I've been here five weeks, I've been all over the force, I've been to every local policing area, I've met a thousand frontline staff and I'm making progress already in improving performance."

He said road safety was one of the "highest priorities" for the force and that they would "double down" on efforts in 2025.

In the Commons, Moon asked his Labour colleague if she shared his concerns about the issues around Devon and Cornwall Police's leadership and the impact on force morale.

Cooper said: "I am aware of the points that he raises and I do have concerns.

"It's really important that all police forces are able to strengthen their neighbourhood policing, but also have strong leadership that goes right through police forces too."

She added the government was due to publish a white paper on policing, which would look at standards and leadership.

Ms Hernandez said she would be meeting the policing minister next week to discuss plans for the force.

She said she could not comment further on Mr Kingscote's departure.

Ms Hernandez added: "The home secretary can rest assured that my team and I have worked tirelessly to ensure that, as we start a new year, Devon and Cornwall Police has a talented and experienced chief constable at its helm.

"Also that we have a budget which is enabling me to reopen police station front desks and the force to maintain record police officer numbers, and a new police and crime plan which has tackling crime in communities at its heart."

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