Colwell is cleared of gross misconduct

FORMER Acting Chief Constable in the Westcountry has been cleared of gross misconduct by the police watchdog - but could still face misconduct proceedings, following an investigation.

- ROD MINCHIN

The Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said there was evidence that Jim Colwell, who was the former acting chief of Devon and Cornwall Police, had potentially breached the force's "notifiable associations policy".

Mr Colwell was suspended in November last year for alleged "professional standards breaches" over claims he had used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a “personal nature”. However, the IOPC said he had no case to answer in relation to the allegation of gross misconduct.