Hernandez said her achievements in the role included the re-opening of 15 police inquiry offices, “strong leadership of policing” and a “lower crime rate than most other police force areas”.
Referring to the abolition of PCCs, she said: “Rushed timescales, work done in secret with little consultation, this feels like something being done to the police and the people, not being done with or for us.
“We cannot afford for party politics to get in the way of ensuring we all work together to get the best deal for the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”
Reacting to the resignation, Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “I suspect that there is more to this story than we are being told, but the truth is, the role has never been clearly defined, and few will mourn its loss. The sooner it’s gone, the better.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said the party was “disappointed” with Hernandez’s decision but thanked her for her work.
He said: “Local Conservatives in Devon and Cornwall will remain focused on ensuring that Alison delivers on our commitments to tackle rural crime and put more police on the streets.”