Suspended chief constable under criminal investigation
The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police has been suspended and is under criminal investigation over serious allegations of sexual offences.
The announcement has come from the police watchdog for Northern Ireland.
Will Kerr has been under investigation for several months over allegations dating back to his time as a senior officer in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
He has been suspended from duty by the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the police watchdog for England and Wales has announced an independent investigation into him.
Initially, the reason given for his suspension was for misconduct.
But the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has now confirmed that it is investigating allegations of sexual assault against Mr Kerr.
Mr Kerr said: “In relation to the statement from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in which she named me as being the subject of a criminal investigation into serious allegations of sexual offences, I strenuously deny any allegations of criminality.
“I recognise and respect the fact that accountability and due process are vital to any investigation, regardless of rank or position.
“I will continue to cooperate with any investigation. I hope that all matters will be expedited so that they will be concluded without delay.”
Mr Kerr’s suspension has comes eight months after he became chief constable for Devon and Cornwall.
He took over the Devon and Cornwall force after it was placed in special measures by the policing inspectorate.
Mr Kerr joined from Police Scotland, where he was deputy chief constable.
Before that he served at the National Crime Agency, as well as spending more than two decades in the PSNI, where he reached the rank of assistant chief constable.
