Latest news with #JimColwell
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
Devon and Cornwall Police deputy chief constable is found guilty of misconduct after sending 'personal' messages on work phone
The deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police has been given an 18-month warning after being found guilty of misconduct. Jim Colwell was the force's acting chief at the time of his offence, having replaced the former Chief Constable who had been suspended over allegations of sexual offences. Colwell's suspension came in November last year after a compulsory referral to the police watchdog by Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall. Claims were made that he had used his work device to exchange messages of a 'personal nature' and over his handling of a force disciplinary matter. It was later found he did not have a case to answer over those allegations, but he did face a misconduct hearing for breaching the force's notifiable associations policy. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a disciplinary meeting had found misconduct proven as Colwell had breached the force's notifiable associations policy. He was handed the written warning as a result, and is set to return to his role as Deputy Chief Constable. An IOPC spokeswoman said: 'A police disciplinary meeting has found misconduct proven against the Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell. 'The tribunal held on Friday July 18, chaired by the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, determined that DCC Colwell had breached the force's notifiable associations policy. 'He has been sanctioned with a written warning, to last for 18 months, after the misconduct tribunal found that his actions breached professional standards relating to orders and instructions and discreditable conduct.' In April, prosecutors in Northern Ireland said the former chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Mr Kerr, would not be prosecuted. The force is currently being led by interim Chief Constable James Vaughan, who will be joined by Colwell. A spokeswoman said: 'He will be supporting Chief Constable James Vaughan and working with the executive in focusing on delivering policing services to our communities.'
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Misconduct proven against Devon and Cornwall Police deputy chief
A police disciplinary meeting has found misconduct proven against the Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim breached the force's notifiable associations policy, said police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).He has been given a written warning lasting for 18 months "after the misconduct tribunal found that his actions breached professional standards relating to orders and instructions and discreditable conduct", said the comes after the police watchdog concluded in May that there was no evidence of gross misconduct by Mr Colwell. Mr Colwell was suspended for alleged "professional standards breaches" in November over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature".The tribunal was held on 18 July and chaired by the chief constable of Lincolnshire Police.
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘Britain's sexiest police officer' cleared of gross misconduct over texts
A police chief described as 'Britain's sexiest police officer' has been cleared of gross misconduct. The police watchdog concluded that there was no evidence of gross misconduct by Jim Colwell, the former acting chief constable of the Devon and Cornwall force. He could still face misconduct proceedings for potentially breaching the force's 'notifiable associations policy'. In November, Mr Colwell was suspended for alleged professional standards breaches over claims that he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a 'personal nature'. But the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said that Mr Colwell had no case to answer. It also found that he did not breach standards in his handling of a force disciplinary matter, but concluded he did have a case to answer for 'a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy'. Mr Colwell was branded Britain's sexiest police officer on social media when he was promoted the rank of chief superintendent in 2016. 'We found no evidence' The IOPC said of its investigation: 'Overall we found no evidence to determine any gross misconduct, or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity. 'We did decide, the now-deputy chief constable, has a case to answer for misconduct in respect of a potential breach 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.' In this regard, it said that a future misconduct hearing was to be arranged by the chief constable of Essex Police, as the delegated authority, 'to determine whether misconduct is proven and any outcome'. Devon and Cornwall Police said that Mr Colwell's suspension had been lifted with immediate effect, but he would not return to normal duties until the conclusion of a further misconduct process. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall said that it was pleased the IOPC had 'moved swiftly to undertake their part of the investigation'. It added: '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.'
The Independent
08-05-2025
- The Independent
Former acting police chief could still face misconduct proceedings
A former acting chief constable could face misconduct proceedings following an investigation by the police watchdog. The Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said there was evidence Jim Colwell, who was the former acting chief of Devon and Cornwall Police, had potentially breached the force's 'notifiable associations policy'. Mr Colwell was suspended in November last year for alleged 'professional standards breaches' over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a 'personal nature'. However, the IOPC said Mr Colwell had no case to answer in relation to the allegation of gross misconduct. It also found he did not breach standards in his handling of a force disciplinary matter, but concluded he did have a case to answer for 'a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy'. 'We found no case to answer in respect of either the alleged use of a work issue mobile phone to exchange personal messages without a policing purpose, or his conduct concerning the handling of a force disciplinary matter,' an IOPC spokesman said. 'Overall, we found no evidence to determine any gross misconduct, or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity. 'We did decide, the now deputy chief constable has a case to answer for misconduct in respect of a potential breach 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. '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.' Mr Colwell was suspended by the Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner, Alison Hernandez, and made a mandatory referral to the IOPC. He had been leading the force in the absence of Chief Constable Will Kerr who had been suspended over allegations of sexual offences. Last month, prosecutors in Northern Ireland said Mr Kerr would not be prosecuted. He remains suspended by Devon and Cornwall pending the outcome of a resumed IOPC investigation. The force is currently being led by interim Chief Constable James Vaughan.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall senior officer cleared of gross misconduct
The police watchdog has concluded there is no evidence of gross misconduct by the former acting chief constable of the Devon and Cornwall Colwell was suspended for alleged "professional standards breaches" in November over claims he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a "personal nature".However, the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said Mr Colwell had no case to answer in relation to the allegation. It also found he did not breach standards in his handling of a force disciplinary matter, but concluded he did have a case to answer for "a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy". Future misconduct hearing The IOPC said of its investigation: "Overall we found no evidence to determine any gross misconduct, or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity."We did decide, the now deputy chief constable, has a case to answer for misconduct in respect of a potential breach 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."In this regard, it said a future misconduct hearing was to be arranged by the chief constable of Essex Police, as the delegated authority, "to determine whether misconduct is proven and any outcome". 'Moved swiftly' Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Colwell's suspension had been lifted with immediate effect, but he would not return to normal duties until the conclusion of a further misconduct Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said it was pleased the IOPC had "moved swiftly to undertake their part of the investigation".It added: "The matter will now progress through the police misconduct processes within Devon & Cornwall Police. "It is now for the chief constable to oversee these processes."
