Police chief probe still continuing, 9 months on

INVESTIGATIONS into the conduct of Devon and Cornwall’s chief constable are still ongoing nine months after he was suspended on full pay from his £170,000 a year job.

The two counties’ police commissioner has spoken of her frustration at the pace of the inquiry, with taxpayers footing the bill for the salaries of two chief constables during those nine months.

Last summer it was revealed that a criminal investigation had been launched into sexual assault allegations against Chief Constable Will Kerr, who is a former assistant chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Mr Kerr strenuously denies the allegations and says he will co-operate with any investigation.

During his suspension, the force has been run by an acting chief constable.

The inquiry into Mr Kerr is being carried out by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (PONI).

The exact nature of the allegations has not been revealed.

On July 26 last year Mr Kerr was suspended by Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez over misconduct allegations, which are being dealt with by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). No details of those allegations have been released either.

A spokesman for Ms Hernandez’s office said the situation remained unchanged, and the criminal investigation is still in the hands of the PONI.

A spokesman for the PONI has confirmed that the criminal investigation is still in progress.

The IOPC said its independent investigation into misconduct allegations had been temporarily suspended pending the criminal investigation being carried out by the PONI.