PCC sorry over 'discourteous' deputy appointment

Mark Kingscote was appointed by Alison Hernandez against a recommendation by councillors

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez has apologised after concerns were raised about the speed of her decision to appoint a deputy.

Members of the Police and Crime Panel, which oversees the commissioner's office, in July voted against the appointment of former Torbay councillor Mark Kingscote as a deputy to Ms Hernandez.

Immediately after the meeting, Ms Hernandez told journalists she would not be accepting the recommendation of the panel.

Ms Hernandez said she "did not accept that [her] actions [had] brought the office into disrepute", but she did "offer a sincere apology to the panel if they [felt her] comments to the press were in any way discourteous".

Five councillors on the panel said while they understood the commissioner did not have to accept their recommendation, they had expected her to take some time to consider their concerns about whether her preferred candidate, a former mental health nurse, had the necessary experience for the role.

At an extraordinary meeting of the panel called to discuss the issue, councillors voted to accept the commissioner's apology and asked that her office work with them to agree a "clear process for future appointments".