Rank review promise for 'top heavy' police force

Alison Hernandez said the government announcement of extra money for neighbourhood policing was "good news"

Devon and Cornwall's Police Commissioner has said the force is committed to "a rank review" to put more PCs on duty across the two counties.

At a Police and Crime Panel meeting, Alison Hernandez said an announcement of extra government funding was "good news" for communities but it was not clear if the "one off payment" could be used to recruit extra officers.

Interim Chief Constable James Vaughan said he was planning to "reduce the senior ranks" in the "top heavy" organisation and put more workers on the front line.

Hernandez said the review would mean 60 more PCs across the patch.

'Top heavy'

The Chief Constable assured councillors no officers would be demoted, but said he had put a freeze on promotions in the next year.

He said: "My view is that Devon and Cornwall Police is top heavy and that view is shared, remarkably, by the Police Superintendents' Association".

He said other savings would be made through retirement and by returning officers who had been acting up to their substantive roles.

'Do something bold'

In the meeting, Hernandez welcomed the announcement that a provisional settlement of £2.4m for Devon and Cornwall will be doubled by the government.

The commissioner also acknowledged the ongoing financial challenges caused by the suspension of her substantive Chief Constable and her Acting Chief Constable.

Ms Hernandez said the monthly cost of £70,000 to pay for three chief constables was "eye watering, but legally necessary".

She said she was looking to save some money by beginning the process of formally returning the Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell to his substantive role of Deputy Chief Constable.

"Unless I do something bold we're never going to move forward," she said.

The commissioner said she remained "frustrated at the lack of pace" of the investigation into substantive Chief Constable Will Kerr and had raised the issue at a meeting with the police minister last week.

Officer numbers held

Ms Hernandez added the extra council tax on second homes meant the force was "in a much better position" than most other forces when it came to its headcount.

She said officer numbers would be maintained at 3,610 in the next financial year, the force's highest ever number.

She said the need to fund pay increases and national insurance increases meant officer numbers would not rise.

The commissioner also proposed an increase to the police part of the council tax precept of 4.99%, the maximum allowed by the government is 5.2%.

Ms Hernandez said it was "difficult to ask for more money when times are so hard for people" but added "the poorest in our communities" would be able to claim for support to pay their bills.