Verita Consultancy Ltd have been appointed by East Devon District Council (EDDC) to carry out an independent investigation into the actions of the council following the allegations, criminal charges and subsequent conviction of John Humphreys.

This investigation has been commissioned following a decision by Council on 28 September 2022 to appoint an independent body to look at this. The aim of the investigation is to understand the actions of staff and Councillors in the handling of matters relating to former councillor John Humphreys, and to recommend any improvements required for the Council going forward.

The council have agreed a terms of reference for its investigation which can be viewed on the EDDC website.

Mr Humphreys was a former mayor of Exmouth and was an East Devon District Councillor from 2007 to 2019. He was imprisoned for 21 years after being convicted in August 2021 of sexually assaulting two teenage boys in the early 1990s and early 2000s. Mr Humphreys was made an Honorary Alderman by EDDC in December 2019. The Council voted to remove his honorary title following his conviction.

If anyone wishes to submit evidence, written statements or to request a meeting with the investigation team in the context of the terms of the reference of this investigation, please write to Verita Consultancy Ltd through their confidential email channel at: SpeakToUs@verita.net

If anyone feels they have been a victim of crime, or has information relating to a criminal offence, they should contact Devon and Cornwall Police through its website here.

It is anticipated that a report on the investigation will be delivered to the council in early 2023.