(Exeter) (Lab): Has the Minister had a chance
recently to talk to the Conservative Police and
Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Police,
which has been in special measures since 2022, and is now being
sued by seven former and serving women police officers for
failing to deal with rapes, emotional abuse and beatings over a
number of years? What can he do to reassure the public in Devon
and Cornwall that these allegations will be thoroughly
independently investigated and any wrongdoing acted on?
The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (): Of course, we have the
Independent Office for Police Conduct to make sure that there is
an independent body available to investigate serious allegations
about police forces or their conduct of particular
investigations. On the Engage process, the chief inspector of
constabulary chairs regular meetings of the policing performance
oversight group, where forces in Engage are looked at and
overseen. Devon and Cornwall is one of those forces, along with
the West Midlands and London.
(South East Cornwall) (Con):
Local policing is really important. I have had some good news
from my police and crime commissioner, , which is that Liskeard
is to have a new police inquiry office. Would my right hon.
Friend join me in welcoming this, and will he look at what
further funding is available for this to happen in other
towns?
: I pay tribute to the excellent
police and crime commissioner, , for the work that she
has done to get the Liskeard centre open, and of course I pay
tribute to my hon. Friend for her tireless work campaigning on
behalf of Devon and Cornwall Police. Devon and Cornwall Police
now has 3,718 officers, which is a record, and next year it will
be receiving £28 million more funding compared with the current
financial year, providing plenty of money to invest in services,
as my hon. Friend quite rightly requests.
