Suspended Devon and Cornwall police chief Will Kerr retires with £165k settlement

Former Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Will Kerr has received a financial settlement worth £165,539 following his decision to retire, the Police and Crime Commissioner has confirmed.

Mr Kerr was suspended in July 2023 after allegations relating to his time with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). 

These allegations included claims of sexual offending and misconduct in office.

READ NEXT: Runners battle boggiest conditions yet at record Dartmoor Volcano Race

In April this year, Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decided not to bring charges, saying there was not enough evidence for a reasonable chance of conviction. 

However, a separate IOPC investigation into alleged gross misconduct, not linked to the criminal case, is still ongoing with no clear end date.

Commissioner Alison Hernandez said Mr Kerr was suspended on full pay in line with police regulations. 

His contract had been due to run until December 2027, meaning taxpayers could have been responsible for funding more than two years of salary costs while he remained suspended.

By agreeing to a settlement equal to nine months of his annual wage, Hernandez said the force had avoided “significant additional costs” and resolved leadership uncertainty.

She added: “With no certainty on the length of the IOPC investigation, the reality we were facing was significant additional costs to taxpayers and continued leadership instability. 

By reaching a financial settlement, that uncertainty has now been resolved.”

Mr Kerr announced his retirement in July, saying it was in the “best interests” of his family and the force. 

Interim Chief Constable James Vaughan has since agreed to remain in post until January 2027, which Hernandez said would bring stability that would not have been possible had Mr Kerr remained suspended.

The commissioner also said she was “incredibly frustrated” at the length of time the IOPC investigation is taking.