Police watchdog says top-ranked Devon officer has ‘no case to answer’

Former acting chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Jim Colwell has ‘no case to answer; in relation to an allegation he used his work mobile phone to exchange personal messages, an investigation has concluded.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found no evidence to determine gross misconduct or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity.

The officer was suspended in November over the allegations.

Meanwhile substantive chief constable Will Kerr remains suspended pending the outcome of an investigation for misconduct allegations.

The IOPC also found DCC Colwell didn’t breach standards when handling a force disciplinary matter.

But the police watchdog is pursuing a misconduct matter over a potential breach by the officer 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, said the IOPC.

“It will be for a future misconduct meeting, arranged by the chief constable of Essex Police as the delegated appropriate authority, to determine whether misconduct is proven and any outcome.”

A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said: “We are pleased the Independent Office for Police Conduct has moved swiftly to undertake their part of the investigation following the mandatory referral made by the police and crime commissioner in November 2024.

“The matter will now progress through the police misconduct processes within Devon and Cornwall Police. It is now for the chief constable to oversee these processes.”

Interim chief constable James Vaughan said there was one single matter that remained unresolved.

“As a result DCC Colwell’s suspension will be lifted with immediate effect and he will return to duties once this misconduct process has concluded,” he said.

Meanwhile Will Kerr, who was appointed to the chief constable post after DCC Colwell, remains suspended pending the outcome of an investigation for misconduct allegations.

A criminal investigation was dropped against Mr Kerr for alleged sexual offences last month.

James Vaughan became the third chief constable in 18 months when he was appointed the ‘interim’ role following suspensions of the substantive and acting chief constable.

Devon and Cornwall Police revealed in March that the cost of paying three chiefs was £69,913 a month.

Jim Colwell has been returned to his previous position of deputy chief constable while suspended, reducing the wage bill.