CHIEF Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has today (Thursday) made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) regarding the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Alison Hernandez. 

This referral has been made in full consultation with the Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Roger Croad and is in line with statutory process. 

The referral relates to allegations about election expenses and potential breaches of electoral law on expenses in the Torbay constituency during the 2015 General Election campaign, where Alison Hernandez was the election agent for the Conservative candidate.  These allegations have been circulating since April 20 following a broadcast on Channel 4 News.

The statutory body responsible for dealing with conduct issues relating to a serving Police and Crime Commissioner is the Police and Crime Panel.

Mr White has been given delegated responsibility from the Police and Crime Panel to deal with the processing of any complaints or issues relating to the conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner on their behalf.  In line with that delegation Mr White has been in full consultation with Mr Croad, as Chair of the Panel, regarding the handling of this matter. 

In any instance where there is a potential serious conduct issue regarding a serving Police and Crime Commissioner the matter must be referred to the IPCC.  This referral will also ensure the independence of any investigation that may become necessary and will also protect the Police and Crime Commissioner from any undue interference from others. The IPCC will now take this matter forward in line with their own procedures.

Ms Hernandez began official duties as PCC today visiting Stop Abuse for Everyone (SAFE) in Exeter, a specialist service for those affected by domestic violence and abuse — one of the 70 accredited organisations that forms the PCC’s victims care network.

She said: ’Last Thursday the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly elected me as their Police and Crime Commissioner. Today I take up that post determined to serve every single person that lives in this police area and determined that the priorities I want to implement in the next four years are heard..

The key areas Ms Hernandez will prioritise are: Reviewing the police station closure plan – ’People have told me they feel abandoned in their communities and we must look at ways in which we can fix this,’ she said, keeping people safe online and on our streets – ’Prevention and awareness will be key to progress in these areas,’ Improving the care and support for victims of crime – ’I want to build on the excellent work to date of the victim care unit and ensure that people in Devon and Cornwall get the best support possible’ and ’making sure we get the best funding deal possible – our local police force has been underfunded for years – we need a system of funding that better reflects issues like rurality and tourism to recognise the pressures placed on policing in our counties.’

 

“Most of all I am determined to get on with delivering my pledges without distraction,” said Ms Hernandez.

 

“I cannot allow my work, or the good name of the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, to be overshadowed by matters relating to the declaration of election expenses in last year’s general election campaign.

 

“Quite properly, my chief executive, Andrew White, has today (Thursday) referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.