Alison Hernandez

Alison Hernandez
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded by Tony Hogg
Personal details
Political party Conservative

Alison Hernandez is an English politician, and the current Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, representing the Conservative Party. She was elected to the post on 5 May 2016, succeeding the previous incumbent, Tony Hogg.[1]

Election expenses

Within days of her election, it was reported that Hernandez was being investigated by police over allegations she failed to properly declare election expenses that were submitted in her role as an election agent for Kevin Foster, Conservative candidate in the Torbay constituency during the 2015 general election. Hernandez is under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission which is managing the probe by West Mercia Police in connection with the United Kingdom general election, 2015 party spending investigation.[2] She faced calls from opposition politicians, including Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans, to step aside from the role of Police and Crime Commissioner while the investigation was ongoing.[3][4] Hernandez addressed these concerns during her swearing in ceremony on 10 May: "I've had over 91,000 people elect me to office. I'm here for the people of Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. I'm here to do a job – the police need support."[4]

The Independent Police Complaints Commission referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service in April 2017. The CPS will decide whether any charges should be brought.[5]

Hernandez courted controversy in June 2017 when she suggested gun owners could engage with terrorists.[6] This idea was swiftly dismissed by Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton due to the complexities of responding to such an incident and the confusion that may occur in identifying the attackers.[6]

Electoral record

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner election, 2016
Party Candidate 1st round 2nd round
 First round votes  Transfer votes 
Total Of round Transfers Total Of round
Conservative Alison Hernandez 69,354 24.4% 21,682 91,036 51.1%
​​
Labour Gareth Derrick 66,519 23.4% 20,723 87,242 48.9%
​​
UKIP Jonathan Smith 49,659 17.5%
​​
Independent Bob Spencer 41,382 14.6%
​​
Liberal Democrat Richard Younger-Ross 35,154 12.4%
​​
Independent William Morris 22,395 7.9%
​​
Turnout 284,463 22.1%
Rejected ballots 9,657 3.3%
Total votes 294,120
Registered electors
Conservative hold

References

  1. ↑ "Alison Hernandez wins Devon and Cornwall poll despite strong Labour challenge". Exeter Express and Echo. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Greenwood, WMNA (26 August 2016). "Crime commissioner expenses probe 'to conclude by November'". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "PCC Alison Hernandez 'should stand aside' over expenses probe". BBC News. BBC. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Expenses probe PCC Alison Hernandez branded 'arrogant'". BBC News. BBC. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Morris, Steven (12 April 2017). "Devon and Cornwall PCC expenses inquiry file sent to prosecutors" (The Guardian). Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 Gun owners could help fight terror attack, says police commissioner | UK news | The Guardian
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