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

The Inspectorate has also issued an accelerated cause for concern report, highlighting issues including a lack of effective strategic leadership, the quality of investigations and the safeguarding of victims.

Ms Hernandez said the concerns reflected issues she had already raised through her scrutiny of the force.

She pointed to a report published by her office in July which included recommendations to improve the force’s understanding of how quickly it responds to reports involving vulnerable people at risk.

The commissioner said the latest findings raised “further serious questions” about the force’s strategic leadership and its ability to address the problems.

However, she described the escalation to Level Three as a “positive intervention”, saying it would provide Vaughan with the additional support and resources needed to improve the service provided to the public.

Hernandez said she continued to have confidence in Vaughan’s “skills, experience and values” to deliver the changes required.

She also welcomed the chief constable’s offer to work with her office on additional scrutiny, which she said would go beyond her existing legal powers.

Hernandez, who has served as Police and Crime Commissioner for ten years, said it had been a “constant source of frustration” that elected representatives did not automatically have the powers to scrutinise the force as closely as she believed necessary.

The latest intervention will increase external oversight of the force as it works to address the concerns raised by HMICFRS.