Suspended Devon and Cornwall Police chief investigated over claims of ‘serious sexual offences’

The suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police is being investigated over “serious allegations of sexual offences”, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Marie Anderson, confirmed.

Martha McHardy www.independent.co.uk 

Chief Constable Will Kerr, who previously served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland for more than 27 years, was suspended on Wednesday after just eight months at Devon and Cornwall Police, following a crisis meeting that began on Friday.

Police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Alison Hernandez, said she had made the decision to suspend him following allegations of misconduct.

The Chief Police Officers Staff Association said Mr Kerr was co-operating with the investigation, which it said related to “legacy misconduct matters” for which he had not yet been interviewed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it is now investigating the allegations against Mr Kerr. Meanwhile, a criminal investigation into “serious allegations of sexual offences” has been launched by the Northern Irish Police Ombudsman.

A statement from Marie Anderson said: “The Police Ombudsman commenced a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences against a former PSNI senior officer, currently the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall, on 16 June 2023, using her own motion powers.

“The ombudsman will also consider the circumstances under which the allegations were investigated by PSNI.

“The office has been engaging with the IOPC on cross-jurisdictional issues in recent weeks, as well as with the office of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Details concerning the precise nature of the allegations and any early investigative actions remain confidential at this time.”

In a statement, the office of PCC for Devon and Cornwall said: “Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, has suspended the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Will Kerr OBE KPM, following allegations of misconduct.

“The commissioner has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has confirmed it will commence an investigation.”

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed deputy chief constable Jim Colwell will become acting chief constable in the meantime.

Mr Colwell said: “I am keen to reassure the public that we will maintain our focus on delivering the best possible service to our communities.

“We have thousands of dedicated and professional officers, staff and volunteers within our force and strong leadership throughout which, when pulled together, mean we can continue to make improvements at pace to provide our communities with the highest levels of service they deserve.”

One senior source told the Guardian that Mr Kerr’s suspension raised concerns about the resilience of the force, which was placed in special measures by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary before he took over in December 2022.

Devon and Cornwall police came under fire after the Keyham shootings in Plymouth in 2021 in which five people were shot dead before the gunman killed himself.

Police were criticised after handing a firearm back to the gunman weeks before the shooting, having previously revoked his licence.

Mr Kerr was previously deputy chief constable of Police Scotland. In a statement, Police Scotland said: “Will Kerr left Police Scotland in 2022. These allegations do not relate to his time at Police Scotland and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

He served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland for more than 27 years and reached the rank of assistant chief constable there, leading on both serious crime and counter-terrorism.

In 2015 he was made an OBE, and he received the King’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours earlier this year.

For backstory see: Tory angry outburst mars attempt to reset Council

Paul Arnott Local Press 

A few weeks ago, I attended the Local Government Association (LGA) conference in Bournemouth. After the pandemic years, it’s good to mingle with other council leaders and officers, as well as the helpful folk from the LGA. It cemented my view that those challenging years maybe created a need for a refreshed way of doing some things.

So last week, the Democratic Alliance ruling group tabled a motion that would allow for wide external engagement with nationally-established bodies to have a look under the bonnet for us. They’d talk freely to councillors and officers to make sure we are in good shape, and if or where we are not optimal to suggest some good ways forward. It’s not a revolution, it happens everywhere and in fact the LGA Peer Review element is due this year anyway.

Sadly, the Conservatives seem to be on national election manoeuvres already and with a string of personal insults against me (very classy) voted against this process. With one very honourable exception it should be added.

So, what did they not like about our Deputy Leader’s motion? Cllr Paul Hayward’s deeply considered proposals had benefitted from independent external advice and looked at the ways that we could improve the quality of the decision-making within the Council. At the start of a four-year term, it seemed obvious to us that we should refresh the council and its priorities.

The Democratic Alliance (including Lib Dems, Independents and Greens) voted for, as did the Labour Group, and other Independents including the three fine members from Cranbrook. Plus, that not-to-be-whipped lone Tory – and good for him. The Tories just got into a familiar lather of impotent fury and in some chaos voted against.

East Devon is a big business with you as our shareholders. Like every business we are being buffeted by high inflation, the aftermath of Covid, the tail winds of Brexit and reduced income. Meanwhile, the demands on us grow, especially amongst those in most need.

Before everyone heads for the lifeboats, I’d better be clear East Devon is not in the least a bad council and we are not delivering bad services. It’s pretty flipping good. But being good is only part of what we want to be. We believe that it is our duty to try to become the best Council in the South West and have set in hand a series of activities to help us become that. Perhaps this is not an aspiration of the weary Tory Group.

We have not produced a scheme of improvement by chance. We are being advised on governance and organisational issues by the LGA. Our local body, South West Councils, is advising us on staffing and training issues. Our proposals will cost next to nothing because most of the costs will be met by the grants given to the LGA by central government. However, we always want to safeguard your cash and make sure it is properly used. So, we have asked the council’s Director of Finance to work with us to cost up the proposals and provide a time table for it. That report will come back for formal approval.

I am sorry that the East Devon Tories acted in the way they did. Getting things better should be a priority for all 60 councillors. Indeed, as part of our motion we have established a working group on which all the Party leaders will sit to move forward the transformation. I really hope that they will now change their mind and commit themselves to help.

Residents of a Cornish harbour town have raised £1m to save their beloved community hospital three years after it was closed by the NHS, raising fears it would be turned into holiday flats.

Steven Morris www.theguardian.com 

The former Edward Hain Memorial hospital in St Ives, which was founded more than a century ago by a local shipping family, is to be turned into a new hub for health and wellness.

It will provide accessible – and free wherever possible – services to residents of the town and west Cornwall.

Lynne Isaacs, chair of the Edward Hain Centre, said: “The loss of our hospital was devastating. We’re thrilled that we can bring much-needed health services back to the town.”

Charities and health groups will provide support for people with conditions such as Parkinson’s, dementia and offer wellbeing and preventive services like food quality awareness, yoga and exercise.

The memorial hospital was founded by Sir Edward and Lady Catherine Hain in memory of their son, Edward “Teddy” Hain, killed by shellfire at Gallipoli in November 1915, the morning he was due to return home.

Put into trust for the benefit of St Ives, the hospital was taken over in 1948 by the newly formed NHS. In 2016, the hospitals closed its in-bed wards.

Despite a series of protests by the community, including an eye-catching demonstration involving 600 people in dressing gowns, complete closure came in 2020 and the NHS announced its plans to sell the building. Such is the demand for holiday homes in St Ives that the town council and residents worried it would be turned into apartments.

But the hospital’s League of Friends, who had raised funds for it since the 1960s, decided to try to buy it. Supported by local businesses and the community, fundraising events including music gigs, balls, coffee mornings, afternoon tea and golf competitions were held.

Among the contributors was 92-year-old Enid Deeble, who was a nurse at the hospital in the 1950s and who took part in a sponsored walk to help save the building.

The Liberal Democrat Cornwall councillor and health campaigner Andrew George described the friends as “magnificent”. However he accused the Tories of closing it down. “As the hospital was a gift to the community most locals don’t understand why they are obliged to pay through the nose to keep it as a community asset.”

The fundraising will continue to pay off a £400,000 mortgage that helped reach the target and more renovations and upgrades are needed.

Teddy Hain was the son of politician Sir Edward Hain. The family ran the Edward Hain Steamship Company, which provided work for generations of St Ives families.

The centre will celebrate its launch with an open weekend on 9 and 10 September.

Row erupts at parish council over poll about whether it should be dissolved.

Asher McShane www.lbc.co.uk

A terse confrontation between has gripped viewers as bile and simmering anger came to the fore at a meeting of Thornton-Le-Dale parish council.

In scenes similar to the Handforth Council meeting that went viral, the North Yorkshire parish council saw angry scenes when one councillor challenged the authority of another.

YouTube link here

Cllr Sandra Kathleen Bell challenged current seat holder Cllr Marguerite Markham, when she was reading out the results of a poll of residents, the majority of whom voted calling for the parish council to be dissolved.

A fortnight ago, a poll was held to determine whether villagers wanted to dissolve the parish council and elect another.

244 people voted, with 180 in favour of dissolution and just 64 supporting the current council. However, the parish council chose to dismiss the result as “undemocratic”, because only 16% of the village electorate voted.

Cllr Markham, reading out the numbers of the poll, was interrupted by Cllr Bell, dressed in pink, who told her: No, no that is not how our elections work.

“Sorry, first past the post, there’s no way that is appropriate. The way it’s put here is nonsense.”

But she is given short shrift by Cll Markham, who tells her: “Sandra, you are not chair, be quiet.”

Cllr Bell replies: “No I’m not, but neither are you acting in any democratic manner. You cannot report the results of the election they way they have here. It’s ridiculous.”

A member of the audience then catches her ire – and she scolds him: “Sorry are you a councillor at all? No that’s right you’ve never stood, I remember now.”

After further exchanges, including an extended awkward silence, the council then hear the majority of people who voted want them dissolved, but Cllr Markham says they will continue to serve.

Then after one further angry back and forth, the whole council, save the clerk, storm out of the meeting.

The heated exchange came after Cllr Markham was forced to berate one person in the audience for noise from their phone.

In the 2020 Handforth Parish Council meeting, chairman Brian Tolver told stand-in clerk Jackie Weaver she had ‘no authority’ to take charge.

She kicked out the chairman – and was lauded for standing up to him – after he angrily told her to ‘read the standing orders’ in an infamous sound-bite from the meeting.

Jobs in once-loved British seaside towns have plummeted by 50,000 in just ten years, Labour reveal today.

Natasha Clark www.thesun.co.uk

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves last night vowed to “make our seaside towns great again” by slashing and reforming business rates, stopping sewage being pumped into the seas, and boosting tourism.

Holiday homeowners will have to register before letting out seaside properties – or face fines under Labour’s mission to save them from ruin.

Ms Reeves promised Sun readers she will crack down on second homeowners who leave properties empty while pretending to rent them out to holidaymakers.

They will bring in a mandatory licencing scheme like in Wales – where owners will have to sign up and pay a fee to rent out their holiday homes – in a bid to help protect communities in rural and coastal areas.

She visited Haven Primrose Valley Caravan Park in Filey where she tried her hand at bingo and making pizzas.

The firm’s seaside resorts – with three million visitors every year bringing in hundreds of jobs for locals – are helping to buck the trend of seaside towns in decline.

Ms Reeves told The Sun: “I love our seaside towns. 

“I have such happy memories of seaside holidays in Gower as a child – everyone has their own stories too.

“There are no better beaches in the world – and wherever you live, you’re never far from one.

“I want to make sure they are thriving again.”

And she’ll be dragging her kids to Cornwall this summer rather than taking them abroad, she revealed.

New stats show how seaside towns from Falmouth to Scarborough are lagging behind in economic growth as young people flock elsewhere for work.

Almost all seaside towns in England and Wales had a fall in employment levels between 2011 and 2021 – with falls of over 10 per cent for some towns.

Most towns had a lower employment rate than their region.

There was a fall in employment levels of almost 50,000 from 2011 to 2021.

But all of England and Wales saw jobs boosted by 1.1million.

Aberystwyth in Wales saw a staggering 26 per cent drop in jobs, losing 1,600 in a decade.

Cleethorpes saw 2,700 jobs go, 2,600 from Bournemouth, and Blackpool lost 1,800.

On average seaside towns only grew 12 per cent between 2009 and 2019 – compared to the UK as a whole by 20 per cent, the ONS analysis revealed.

The growth per job in real terms (growth value added) increased by, on average, three per cent across 35 seaside towns, compared to five per cent across the UK.

Lytham St Anne’s was the town with the lowest growth, with GVA per job falling by 32 per cent over a decad.