Deputy crime commissioner quits after five months

Mark Kingscote was hired by police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez in July

The deputy police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has resigned after five months in the role.

Former Torbay Conservative councillor Mark Kingscote was hired by police and crime commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez in July to help her deal with leadership issues in the force.

The police and crime panel, which scrutinises her work, did not support Mr Kingscote's appointment and said at the time he did not have "sufficient experience" and would be "unable to work on behalf of all residents...[OR] meet the minimum requirements of the post", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ms Hernandez wrote in a letter to panel members that Mr Kingscote had resigned "due to personal circumstances".

'Dire straits'

She did not disclose what those circumstances were but in a letter to police and crime panel members, Ms Hernandez wrote: "I am particularly grateful for his assistance on scrutinising our estates' plans, attending public and civic engagement events, the police museum and many other matters."

She said she is not expecting to recruit another deputy in the near future.

When selecting Mr Kingscote, Ms Hernandez said he had "a unique set of skills" including working with people with complex mental health needs over his 30-year career in the NHS.

She said he would focus on issues such as anti-social behaviour in Torbay, while she concentrated on the leadership of an organisation "in dire straits".

At the time of Mr Kingscote's appointment, chief constable Will Kerr had been suspended over allegations of serious sexual assault which he has denied.

Deputy chief constable Jim Colwell stepped up to act as chief constable, but then was suspended in November over claims he misused his work phone.

Both the permanent chief constable and the acting chief constable are now subjects of separate investigations by the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

'Surprised and disappointed'

In December Ms Hernandez appointed former chief of Dorset police James Vaughan as interim chief constable.

Ms Hernandez has the power to appoint a deputy without the panel's support but apologised to the panel after informing journalists of the appointment before notifying them.

The PCC's office said it would not comment about Mr Kingscote's resignation as it was "a staff matter".

Chair of the police and crime panel councillor Sally Haydon said she was "surprised and disappointed, given all the motions we went through at the time".

She maintained the view she expressed in July that she would rather the deputy PCC's annual salary of £59,000 be spent on "more bobbies on the beat".