Sidmouth: Humphreys investigation could cost over £50k in taxpayers' cash

More than £50,000 could be spent on an investigation into how a councillor continued to serve on East Devon District Council, despite being under investigation for five years for serious child sex offences.

John Humphreys is currently serving 21 years in prison after being convicted last August of assaulting two teenage boys.

As well as being a long-standing member of the Conservative Party and East Devon District and Exmouth town councillor, Humphreys is a former mayor of Exmouth. He was appointed an alderman of the district council in 2019, after stepping down from all his public roles, but before his arrest was public knowledge.

Devon County Council is also investigating its own role in the Humphreys’ case after admitting it had made mistakes after it had been informed of his arrest.

At an extraordinary meeting of East Devon District Council last Wednesday [28 September], Councillor Jess Bailey (Independent, West Hill and Aylesbeare) proposed that the council instruct independent investigations company Verita to look into the case. The motion, seconded by Labour councillor Paul Millar, was passed by a majority vote.

Verita say the investigation is expected to cost between £35,000 and £45,000, excluding VAT and expenses.

The company’s website explains Verita was formed more than 20 years ago and has since completed more than 350 investigations, many of which it says could be considered “high-profile.”

Councillor Philip Skinner (Tale Vale, Conservative) told the meeting the council’s finances are “stretched”, and asking which pot the money for this investigation, that he believed would leave them “no further forward.”

Other councillors asked if money was “more important than children’s safety” – although Humphreys is now in prison.

Some questioned why Verita is the chosen investigator. The council’s chief executive Mark Williams suggested other options should be explored, including the authority’s own external auditors or that the council refers itself to the secretary of state best value inspection team.

One councillor reminded councillors that Devon County Council’s investigation is being headed by a former Ofsted inspector.

One Verita case study on its website, highlighted by Cllr Paul Hayward (Independent/East Devon Alliance Party, Yarty) are investigations into Jimmy Savile’s access to victims in NHS and educational settings. These investigations scrutinised the paedophile DJ’s access into areas of public life, with similarities to the investigation now commissioned by East Devon District Council.

Verita’s proposal for its investigation suggests it will take two or three months to complete.