Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner's expenses case handed to Crown Prosecution Service

An investigation into the election expenses of Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

It is alleged Alison Hernandez failed to properly declare expenses while she was employed by the Conservative party as an election agent in Torbay for the 2015 General Election.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has confirmed it intends to pass its files to the CPS after an investigation by West Mercia Police.

Alison Hernandez has previously said the expenses she claimed were part of national rather than local spending.

She was elected as the region's Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2016 but faced calls to stand down when she was sworn in just days later.

The CPS will now consider whether charges should be brought.

Andrew White, the chief executive for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, defended Ms Hernandez saying there was no reason for her to stand down: