Deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police given written warning after misconduct proven

The tribunal, chaired by the chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, determined that Jim Colwell had breached the force’s notifiable associations policy.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: “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.”

The IOPC had begun an investigation into misconduct allegations against Mr Colwell, who was the then acting chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, following a referral from the police and crime commissioner in November 2024.

The investigation concluded in April this year.

The IOPC said: “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. 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. “

Mr Colwell joined the force in 2001 at the age of 27 and was promoted to deputy chief constable in July 2021. Since then has also undertaken the role of both temporary and acting chief constable.