Senior police officer cleared of gross misconduct

The IOPC said Mr Colwell had no case to answer over the alleged use a work mobile phone to exchange personal messages

The police watchdog has concluded there is no evidence of gross misconduct by the former acting chief constable of the Devon and Cornwall force.

Jim Colwell was suspended for alleged "professional standards breaches" in November over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature".

However, the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said Mr Colwell had no case to answer in relation to the allegation.

It also found he did not breach standards in his handling of a force disciplinary matter, but concluded he did have a case to answer for "a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy".

Future misconduct hearing

The IOPC said of its investigation: "Overall we found no evidence to determine any gross misconduct, or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity.

"We did decide, the now deputy chief constable, has a case to answer for misconduct in respect of a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy.

"In our opinion there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable misconduct tribunal could find that his actions breached standards of professional behaviour for order and instructions, and conduct."

In this regard, it said a future misconduct hearing was to be arranged by the chief constable of Essex Police, as the delegated authority, "to determine whether misconduct is proven and any outcome".

'Moved swiftly'

Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Colwell's suspension had been lifted with immediate effect, but he would not return to normal duties until the conclusion of a further misconduct process.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said it was pleased the IOPC had "moved swiftly to undertake their part of the investigation".

It added: "The matter will now progress through the police misconduct processes within Devon & Cornwall Police.

"It is now for the chief constable to oversee these processes."