Newly-elected PCC caught up in electoral fraud allegations

A new police and crime commissioner (PCC) is facing calls to “stand aside” just days into her tenure amid allegations of improper election spending.

Devon and Cornwall PCC Alison Hernandez, newly elected on Friday (May 6) to the post, is accused of failing to declare spending during the 2015 general election.

The force is one of eight around the country investigating up to ten sitting Tory MPs and Ms Hernandez was the election agent for one of them.

Last week, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that it has launched an investigation into claims that more than two dozen Conservative MPs who were aided by activists on board battlebuses failed to declare the costs of the buses and hotel bills that ran into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Ms Hernandez, who faces a possible one-year jail sentence if found guilty under the Representation of the People Act, says she has not been approached by any authorities regarding an election fraud inquiry.

The accused Devon and Cornwall MPs are Scott Mann in North Cornwall, George Eustace in Cambourne and Redruth, Oliver Colville in Plymouth Sutton and Devenport and Kevin Foster in Torbay.

Ms Hernandez was Mr Foster’s election agent.

In a statement following the announcement that the Devon and Cornwall investigation is being transferred to another police force, Ms Hernandez said: “I stand ready to assist with any enquiries that the police or any other agency wish to make.

“At my request the chief executive has put in place arrangements that I will have no contact with the chief constable or any officer from Devon and Cornwall in relation to this matter.

“I welcome the decision by Devon and Cornwall Police to transfer this matter to another police force. The transfer removes any suggestion that I could ever influence police action.”

Ms Hernandez, who eventually managed a narrow two per cent winning margin against her Labour opponent Gareth Derrick in what began as a six-strong candidate list in the first round voting of the PCC election on Thursday, claimed the issue — “reported for many weeks in the media” — had not influenced the electorate.

“Clearly, the people of Devon and Cornwall did not let it affect their vote,” she said.

“They have had faith in me to do this job so I intend to get on with it and not be distracted with other matters.”

Andrew White, chief executive of the office for the police and crime commissioner, said: “Devon and Cornwall Police has announced that it intends to transfer the investigation of general election campaign spending, including any matters relating to new police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez, to another force.

“These arrangements have been put in place to protect Devon and Cornwall Police from any suggestions that they may be subject to undue influence, and to ensure that any individuals who form part of this investigation will be treated impartially by an independent police force.”

Meanwhile Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council, said he intended to boycott a ceremony on Tuesday (May 9) at which Ms Hernandez is due to be sworn in.

“She is expecting me to go along like a grinning chimp and endorse what she is trying to do,” Councillor Evans said.

“That is the greatest act of chutzpah the world has ever seen. This ceremony is tainted.”

Councillor Evans says Ms Hernandez should step down until the investigation is over.

“I say that not because I believe her to have committed an offence, I have no way of knowing that,” he said.

“But this is a bad start, it makes her vulnerable and undermines her credibility with the force from day one.”

Exeter`s Labour MP Ben Bradshaw and former Lib Dem MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders have added to calls for Ms Hernandez to step aside.

Mr Bradshaw tweeted: “Wholly inappropriate for Alison Fernandez to take police commissioner oath while Tory expenses investigation ongoing”.

Eight forces are now investigating allegations of election fraud over visits by the Tories’ battle bus.

Any prosecutions should start within a year of last May’