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Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel confirmation hearing report - Friday 19 July 2024

Proposed appointment of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner

Contact for further information: Ross Jago 01752 307829, Head of Governance, Performance and Risk, Plymouth City Council. [email protected]

Present

Councillor Haydon (Chair), Councillor Worth (Vice-Chair), Councillors Alvey, Chopak. Croad, Ewings, Hackett, Loudoun, Penberthy, Thomas, Toms, Tyerman and Wright.

Officers

Liz Bryant – Head of Legal/Monitoring Officer

Also in attendance

Mark Kingscote (preferred candidate), Alison Hernandez - Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, Fran Hughes - Chief Executive - Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Nicola Allen – Treasurer – Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Confirmation Hearing

The Chair explained the purpose of the meeting, which was to hold a Confirmation Hearing before making a report and recommendation to the Police and Crime Commissioner (‘the Commissioner’) in relation to her proposed appointment of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

The hearing was a meeting of the Panel, at which the proposed candidate, Mark Kingscote, appeared for the purpose of answering questions relating to the proposed appointment. The meeting was held in accordance with the provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

In advance of the meeting, Members were referred to the procedure to be followed and it was indicated that when the questions asked of the proposed candidate by Panel members were concluded, the Panel would go into closed session, in order to agree a report and recommendations to the Commissioner.

The Panel’s decision would be communicated to the Commissioner and her preferred candidate immediately, following the discussion.

Details of a report with notification of the proposed appointment and accompanying documents from the PCC, were considered by the Panel. These provided details of the appointment process leading to the PCC’s proposal to appoint and why the candidate satisfied those criteria and the terms and conditions of appointment.

Following the adjournment, the Panel reconvened and the Chair advised

that the Panel had had the opportunity, in private session, to consider and review:

  • the Police and Crime Commissioner’s recruitment and selection process;
  • details about the candidate;
  • the criteria used to assess the candidate;
  • how the candidate satisfied that criteria and their terms and conditions of
  • employment;

in order to satisfy themselves as to whether or not Mr Kingscote was a suitable appointment.

The Panel reached a decision in respect of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed appointment of Mr Mark Kingscote as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and the OPCC Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer had been informed.

Following a vote,
After a lengthy discussion where Panel members considered Mr Kingscote’s suitability against the criteria you provided, the Panel formed the view that the candidate did not have sufficient experience and that he would be unable to work on behalf of all residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Panel agreed that the candidate does not meet the minimum requirements of the post. In accordance with Schedule 1, Para 10 (4) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act the Panel recommends that the candidate should not be appointed.

A separate letter outlining the Panel’s concerns will be provided to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on the next working day after this meeting.