Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Resigns After Controversial Appointment

Devon: Just five months after being appointed, the deputy police and crime commissioner, Mark Kingscote, has resigned. His time in the role was pretty controversial from the start.

He was brought on board by Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner, last July. She needed help with some leadership issues in the police force. But the police and crime panel didn’t support his appointment at all.

They felt he lacked the experience to represent everyone in Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. Despite their concerns, Hernandez went ahead and hired him anyway, offering a salary of £59,000 a year.

Now, just a few months later, he’s out. Hernandez mentioned in a letter that Kingscote resigned due to personal circumstances, but she didn’t go into details.

She did express gratitude for his help with various projects, like scrutinizing plans and attending community events. Interestingly, she doesn’t plan to find a replacement anytime soon.

When she picked Kingscote, she claimed he had a unique skill set from his 30 years in the NHS, especially working with people facing mental health challenges. She thought he could tackle anti-social behavior in Torbay while she focused on the police leadership issues.

At the time, the police force was in turmoil, with the chief constable suspended over serious allegations. Now, both the chief and acting chief constable are under investigation.

Last month, Hernandez appointed a former chief of Dorset police as interim chief constable, which she believes will be a positive change for the community.

While she can appoint a deputy without the panel’s backing, she did apologize for not informing them before going public with Kingscote’s appointment.

The police and crime commissioner’s office is keeping quiet about his resignation, calling it a staff matter. The chair of the police and crime panel expressed surprise and disappointment, reiterating her belief that the deputy’s salary could be better spent on more officers on the streets.

The role was supposed to last for a year, with a chance to extend it until the next elections in 2028. Hernandez, a Conservative, was elected for her third term last year.