Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez says she has full confidence in the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police following the performance reclassification of the force by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The Inspectorate has, at the same time, issued an accelerated cause for concern report raising concerns about a lack of effective strategic leadership alongside issues relating to investigation quality and safeguarding victims.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “These issues, while clearly concerning, come as no surprise and in fact reflect those I have been raising through my ongoing scrutiny for some time. As recently as July, a scrutiny report by my office made recommendations which included improving the force’s understanding of how quickly it is responding to reports involving vulnerable people at risk.

“The Inspectorate’s announcement raises further serious questions about the ability of the force’s strategic leadership to address these concerns. Therefore, the escalation to Level Three is a positive intervention that will give Chief Constable James Vaughan the support and resources he will need to lead further improvements to the service being provided to the public.

“I continue to have confidence that Mr Vaughan has the skills, experience and values to make the required change.

“I welcome the Chief Constable’s offer to support him with additional, enhanced scrutiny which goes above and beyond my legal powers.

“In my 10 years as a Police and Crime Commissioner, it has been a constant source of frustration that my fellow representatives and I do not automatically have the right to be as intrusive as I believe is necessary.”