PCC elections: Ex-chief constable would have felt 'threatened'

A former chief constable of Devon and Cornwall said he would have felt "a little threatened" working alongside a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Devon and Cornwall Police's first PCC, due to be elected on 15 November, will hold the force to account.

They will also be able to hire and fire chief constables.

However, Sir John Evans, who was chief constable from 1989 to 2002, added that he believed the force would make the new system work.

'Not equal partner'

Ten candidates are standing for the post.

When elected, the PCC will be tasked with scrutinising the force and setting its budget.

Speaking during a debate on BBC Radio Devon, Sir John said: "I think the difficulty is going to be that the chief constable will no longer be an equal partner [of the governing body] in that role.

"I think I would feel a little threatened.

"But the government has decided that this is what we will have, and we will make it work."

Meanwhile, about 1.3 million people are registered to vote in the first PCC elections to be held in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, polling organisers said.

The 1,304,000 people registered would be able to cast their ballot at 1,375 polling stations around the counties, Police Area Returning Officer Kevin Lavery said.

About 205,000 had registered for postal votes, he added.