Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has expressed her 'delight' at the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to bring any charges over the Conservative Party's spending during the 2015 election campaign, describing the investigation as a 'sobering experience'.
Ms Hernandez was the agent for Tory candidate in Torbay Kevin Foster who beat longstanding Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders by 3,200 votes at the 2015 election. She was then elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for the region in 2016.
"I am delighted that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided to take no further action against me following the police investigation into spending at the 2015 general election", said Ms Hernandez.
"It is now two years on from these events and I am pleased that the shadow of the investigation has now been removed.
Read more: No charges against Devon crime chief over Tory election expenses - live reaction
LISTEN: PCC Alison Hernandez reacts to CPS decision
"My political opponents have regularly called for me to stand down over the past year but I have been determined not to let the investigation affect the way that I carry out my duties as police and crime commissioner.
"Over the past year I have set in train actions to create 100 additional police officers, a large increase in criminal investigation capacity, more armed response officers and a new remote record taking team to free up front line officers. At the same time, I have stopped closures of police stations and started to reconnect the public with the police."
The CPS announced on Wednesday that no criminal charges will be brought over the 14 police inquiries into Conservative Party election spending though one file from Kent Police remains under consideration.
Head of special crime Nick Vamos said that prosecutors considered files from 14 police forces, but determined that - while spending returns may have been inaccurate - there was insufficient evidence to prove that any candidate or agent was dishonest.
The investigation centred around spending on the Tory 'battle bus' which toured the country in the run up to the 2015 election, targeting key seats.
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"Being under police investigation is a very sobering experience," add Ms Hernandez. "This investigation has been independent at every stage – the police work was undertaken by West Mercia Police with no involvement from Devon and Cornwall.
"I would also like to thank my friends and family who have been a constant support over the past year and to my team in the OPCC which has supported me in being the police and crime commissioner over the last 12 months."
Mr Foster, who is the Tory candidate for this year's election in June, said: "I would first like to thank the police for thoroughly going through everything to ensure that everyone can have the confidence that the 2015 election was a free and fair contest.
"Last year has been a frustrating one given the delays in reaching this point, but I am pleased this matter is at a conclusion.
"Once this election is out of the way, I am sure there will be a look at how future such inquiries are handled - in particular what weight should be given to the statements of a defeated candidate who has made no effort to raise their point via the process of challenging election results.
"A series of other allegations on other issues were made all of which proved unfounded.
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"I am obviously relieved, that we no longer face this type of accusation and I have no problem co-operating with any investigation it's just a pity it has taken so long to get the outcome."
Adrian Sanders has called for 'major overhaul' of expenses legislation following the CPS announcement. "The Electoral Commission has said there was cheating, but he CPS have had to decide whether there was incompetence of accounting fraud," he said.
"I think they would find it very difficult to prove fraud so it is a case of incompetence.
"This is national and involved dozens of constituencies. I think that the investigation and what the Electoral Commission has said has given enough reasons why there needs to be a major overhaul of electoral expense legislation. It will make people more careful, but there do need to be changes because the burden of proof is so high.
"There needs to be a long hard look at what is local expenditure and what is national expenditure.
Mr Sanders, who lodged a complaint, said several people were invited to make statements to the police who had complained. But he said the issue had been raised by the Channel 4 allegations.
"I am really happy it is over, it has dragged on rather too long," he added. "But if it brings change in the future that's brilliant."
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