Devon and Cornwall Police

Devon and Cornwall Police is the local force considered as a potential partner in the Combe Island investigations. Its role is discussed chiefly at the level of jurisdiction and practical support: the London-led team remains in place, while the local force is identified as a possible source of technical assistance and a recipient of exhibits.

Institutional Role and Jurisdiction

After Professor Glenister confirmed that Nathan Oliver had been murdered, Geoffrey Harkness considered whether the case should be handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police. He described transfer as the reasonable course, but noted that it would be unpopular with certain people in London. Because Adam Dalgliesh and his team were already on the island, Harkness also acknowledged a case for letting them continue. The exchange establishes the force as the relevant local authority without showing that it took over the investigation.

London Command and Local Support

The question of local involvement arose again after the investigation expanded to include two murders during the SARS emergency. Harkness judged that Kate Miskin and Sergeant Benton-Smith lacked ideal staffing for a double-murder inquiry, and proposed calling in technical backing from the local force. He suggested that scene-of-crime officers and fingerprint specialists could work while avoiding anyone infected, subject to Home Office authorization. The proposal makes assistance conditional on infection-control precautions and approval; it does not establish that those specialists were actually sent.

Exhibits and Operational Limits

Harkness said he would speak to the Chief Constable at Exeter and that the local force could cope with exhibits. This offers a concrete support function even while the London officers remain responsible for the investigation. Harkness told Kate to carry on with Benton-Smith for at least three days, until Friday, and to keep him informed while arrangements and the public-health situation developed.

Significance in the Investigation

The force's presence in the narrative is therefore institutional rather than personal: no individual Devon and Cornwall officer is shown conducting an interview or making an investigative finding in the cited episodes. Its potential contribution marks the boundary between local capacity and London command, while the SARS crisis makes cooperation dependent not only on jurisdiction but also on the safety of personnel and the handling of evidence.