Devon police commissioner resigns from Conservative party ‘to fight to secure police resources’

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has stepped down from the Conservative Party and will serve the rest of her term as an Independent.

Ms Hernandez said she does not want party politics to get in the way of securing the best deal for the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

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She was elected as a Conservative to the role in 2016 and is currently serving her third term.

The role of police and crime commissioner is due to be abolished by the Government in 2028.

Further police reforms are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, when the Government is due to publish a white paper.

Ms Hernandez said: “I have decided to step away from party politics and become an Independent. I believe it will enable me to fight to secure the policing resources we have in Devon and Cornwall, 43 per cent of which is funded by all of us through our council tax.”

She said she was concerned about the imminent policing white paper.

“Rushed timescales, work done in secret with little consultation, this feels like something being done to the police and the people, not being done with or for us.

“And the timing of the abolition of PCCs, again not planned, makes me anxious for our area. We cannot afford for party politics to get in the way of ensuring we all work together to get the best deal for the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

The commissioner said she wanted to reassure police officers, staff, volunteers and members of the public that the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan remain unchanged.

Ms Hernandez is supported by a team of around 30 non-political staff, led by a chief executive, who will “continue holding the police to account” and fulfilling their statutory obligations.

In a personal statement on social media, she said she had always been clear when using her tax-raising powers that if people pay more, they get more.

The commissioner has raised council tax by more than £100 a year since coming into office and, during that time, has reopened 15 police enquiry offices, opened a new police station with a modern custody centre in Exeter, a new police station in Liskeard, and achieved record police officer numbers of 3,610.

“People from all walks of life and political views have funded these investments, so I want to continue to fight on all of our behalf to secure these home-grown resources for the future, without any reason for politicians, businesses, organisations and residents not to work with me to do so,” she said.

Devon and Cornwall Police has faced leadership problems in recent years, with former chief constable Will Kerr suspended in May 2023, and his replacement Jim Colwell also suspended before later being cleared.

The force, which came out of special measures earlier this year, is said to be entering a new period of stability under the leadership of interim chief constable James Vaughan, whose contract has been extended to January 2027.

Leader of the Conservative group on Devon County Council, Cllr Andrew Leadbetter (Wearside and Topsham), said Ms Hernandez was elected on a Conservative manifesto and “had been a strong and effective police commissioner, as well as clearly popular, as she was re-elected”.

“Obviously, we are disappointed that she has made this decision, but we wish her well for the future and trust that she will continue to implement the strong Conservative policies of reducing crime and putting more police on the street.

“On a personal note, I have enjoyed working with Alison as a Conservative and will continue to work with her as an Independent in order to deliver the best possible policing in Devon.”

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for police and crime, Cllr Steve Lodge (Devon County Council, Tiverton West), said that given the current volatility in Conservative support, it was of “little surprise” that the commissioner was considering her next steps.

“There’s now a well-trodden path from leaving the sinking ship of the Conservatives to something else, and much debate about the political futures of those PCCs whose roles will be abolished in 2028, something the Lib Dems have been demanding for some time.

“It’s a bureaucratic function that is expensive, has underperformed and has not delivered better results for local communities, and political allegiance won’t change that.

“It is also important to remember that she will have sworn an oath of impartiality as PCC and, regardless of this announcement, her political allegiance should not, and should never have, influenced her role.”

Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP Luke Pollard said: “I congratulate Alison for finally realising that party politics and police commissioners have no place together. It is something most of us knew from the start of this failed project, and I am glad that Labour is scrapping the position.

“I suspect there is more to this story than we are being told, but the truth is the role has never been clearly defined, and few will mourn its loss. The sooner it’s gone, the better.”