James Vaughan has been appointed as interim Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable following the suspension of acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell at the end of November. He was sworn in last Friday and took up duties immediately.
His recruitment involved Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, the College of Policing, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police and Fire & Rescue Services, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel and representatives of Cornwall Council.
James Vaughan is Devon & Cornwall Police’s third chief constable in eighteen months. He retired from Dorset Police in 2021 after spending nine years at the force, the final three as chief constable.
He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed as interim chief constable. This is not a role I take lightly, and I would like to reassure the residents of our two counties that I am committed to leading Devon & Cornwall Police in delivering a police force we can all be proud of.”
Interim Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan. Photo: Devon & Cornwall Police.
James Vaughan’s appointment follows the suspension of acting Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable Jim Colwell at the end of last month.
Jim Colwell was served notice by the Independent Office for Police Conduct of an investigation into potential gross misconduct “in respect of his use of a work issue mobile phone to exchange messages of a personal nature without a policing purpose” and “alleged conduct concerning a force disciplinary matter”.
He was appointed in July last year to lead Devon & Cornwall Police on a temporary basis following the suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr.
Will Kerr, who joined Devon & Cornwall Police in December 2022, had been under investigation over allegations of sexual offences, which he denies, for several months by the time of his suspension.
Both continue to receive a salary while investigations continue, leaving Devon & Cornwall Police paying for three chief constables at once.
