New police head 'the man to turn the force around'

THE man appointed to head Devon and Cornwall police while two chief constables remain suspended could help the force come out of special measures, according to the region’s police and crime commissioner.

- By ALISON STEPHENSON

Alison Hernandez claims James Vaughan “turned around the performance on recording crime” at Devon and Cornwall Police several years ago when he served as deputy chief constable from 2016 to 2018.

With the force having been formally criticised by inspectors about how it records crime, and a vacuum at the top of the organisation, she wants him to repeat his success.

Coming out of retirement from policing to run Devon and Cornwall on an interim basis, Mr Vaughan is a former chief constable of neighbouring Dorset Police, where he served for nine years including holding the top job between 2018 and 2021. His appointment follows the suspension of both Will Kerr, who holds the permanent job, in July last year, and Jim Colwell, who had been acting chief constable in Mr Kerr's place until he was suspended last month.

Mr Kerr is being investigated on suspicion of sexual offences alleged to have taken place before he joined the Devon and Cornwall force. He strenuously denies any wrongdoing.