[He is the one still suspended].

Can Alison Hernandez now claim “closure” over the “one for the price of three” debacle? – Owl

ITV News www.itv.com

The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Will Kerr, who has been suspended from his job for the last two years, has announced he is to stand down.

In a statement issued by the Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez they have said that he will retire by mutual consent.

Mr Kerr has been under investigation in Northern Ireland but has not been charged with any offence.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in England continues although this is not related to criminal allegations investigated in Northern Ireland that have since been dismissed.

Alison Hernandez said: “Suspension from duty is a neutral act and there is always a presumption of innocence until proved otherwise.

“I have now agreed Mr Kerr’s departure from the force to allow processes for new and stable leadership to take Devon & Cornwall Police forward as this is now in the best interests of all parties.

“I remain frustrated at the amount of time this investigation has taken and the way that cross jurisdictional issues have lengthened the process during separate investigations by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and now the IOPC.

“His departure does not signal guilt, but instead a deep appreciation of the need for Devon & Cornwall Police to move forward with stable leadership from a substantive Chief Constable.”

James Vaughan, who came out of retirement to run the force will continue as Interim Chief Constable until a new recruitment process is complete.

In accordance with police misconduct regulations, the investigations will continue despite Mr Kerr’s departure.

Mr Kerr said: “Having been cleared in relation to what I believe were malicious criminal allegations in Northern Ireland, I have decided that it’s now in the best interests of my family and the Force that I retire as Chief Constable.

“After nearly 36 years of public service, this is not the way I would have chosen to retire but the Force, and communities across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, deserve stable leadership in policing.

“I remain a strong advocate for effective accountability in policing, but that accountability process must be fair, timely and proportionate. Sadly, like too many other officers, that has not been my experience over the past two years.

“I continue to wish all of the highly committed officers and staff in Devon and Cornwall Police well and, despite the personal challenges of the past few years, I remain proud of the value of community-focussed policing, and a firm supporter of the people within its ranks.”