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Police 'regret' at merger payouts Police 'regret' at merger payouts
(30 minutes later)
The Home Office has said it will share out a total of £4m among police forces in England and Wales towards the costs of preparing for the abandoned mergers.The Home Office has said it will share out a total of £4m among police forces in England and Wales towards the costs of preparing for the abandoned mergers.
Forces had claimed £6.5m. The pay-out figure was called "regrettable" by the Association of Police Authorities.Forces had claimed £6.5m. The pay-out figure was called "regrettable" by the Association of Police Authorities.
Forces losing out include Surrey, which claimed £649,000, and Sussex, which claimed £519,000. Both get £100,000.Forces losing out include Surrey, which claimed £649,000, and Sussex, which claimed £519,000. Both get £100,000.
Plans to cut the number of forces from 43 to 24 were abandoned in July after widespread police opposition.Plans to cut the number of forces from 43 to 24 were abandoned in July after widespread police opposition.
Mr McNulty said that in deciding the amounts given to the different forces "consideration has been given to the need to treat all forces fairly given the wide disparity in the amounts claimed".Mr McNulty said that in deciding the amounts given to the different forces "consideration has been given to the need to treat all forces fairly given the wide disparity in the amounts claimed".
'Staggering waste''Staggering waste'
The minister said "other factors" included affordability of the total amount due to be paid, and where costs had been incurred in response to specific requests by the Home Office.The minister said "other factors" included affordability of the total amount due to be paid, and where costs had been incurred in response to specific requests by the Home Office.
In all but four cases the amount being paid is to be capped at £100,000 per force.In all but four cases the amount being paid is to be capped at £100,000 per force.
FORCE-BY-FORCE PAYOUTS Bedfordshire: £23,430Cambridgeshire: £100,000 (claimed £242,000)Cheshire: £100,000 (£339,767)Cleveland: £100,000 (£189,986)Cumbria: £271,000Derbyshire: £35,782 (£58,469)Dorest: £140,836Durham: £67,155Dyfed-Powys: £100,000 (£225,891)Essex: £100,000 (£169,870)GMP: £75,810Gwent: £96,467Hampshire: £11,495Hertfordshire: £100,000 (£144,327)Humberside: £100,000 (£119,730)Kent: £100,000 (£152,042)Lancashire: £725,000Leicestershire: £37,232Lincolnshire: £287,600Merseyside: £100,000 (£266,357)Norfolk: £100,000 (£135,729)North Wales: £100,000 (£245,020)North Yorkshire: £100,00 (£167,808)Northamptonshire: £85,800Northumbria: £38,021Notts: £46,200South Wales: £100,000 (£326,944)South Yorks: £30,652Staffs: £56,317Suffolk: £45,483Surrey: £100,000 (£649,311)Sussex: £100,000 (£519,879)Thames Valley: £33,860Warwickshire: £100,000 (£174,608)West Mercia: £89,061West Mids: £100,000 (£117,591)West Yorks: £100,000 (£104,569) Where only one figure is given, the full amount claimed is being paid
As well as Sussex and Surrey, there are losses of more than £100,000 for the Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys, Merseyside, North Wales and South Wales forces.As well as Sussex and Surrey, there are losses of more than £100,000 for the Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys, Merseyside, North Wales and South Wales forces.
There are exceptions to the £100,000 cap for Lancashire and Cumbria police authorities because they were selected to become the first merged force.There are exceptions to the £100,000 cap for Lancashire and Cumbria police authorities because they were selected to become the first merged force.
Lancashire will be paid its full amount of £750,000 and Cumbria will get £271,000.Lancashire will be paid its full amount of £750,000 and Cumbria will get £271,000.
Lincolnshire police authority will be reimbursed £287,600 because of work done on Home Office advice, he said, and Dorset will receive £140,000 because its bid took account of work done on behalf of four other forces.Lincolnshire police authority will be reimbursed £287,600 because of work done on Home Office advice, he said, and Dorset will receive £140,000 because its bid took account of work done on behalf of four other forces.
The chairman of the Association of Police Authorities, Bob Jones called the failure to reimburse all the money claimed was "regrettable".The chairman of the Association of Police Authorities, Bob Jones called the failure to reimburse all the money claimed was "regrettable".
"After all, the money police authorities spent was money that would otherwise have been spent on improving local policing for local communities," he said."After all, the money police authorities spent was money that would otherwise have been spent on improving local policing for local communities," he said.
Earlier this year the Conservatives labelled the whole mergers episode a "staggering waste of hard-earned taxpayers' money".Earlier this year the Conservatives labelled the whole mergers episode a "staggering waste of hard-earned taxpayers' money".
But the Home Office said the work carried out in preparation for the mergers would stand forces in good stead.But the Home Office said the work carried out in preparation for the mergers would stand forces in good stead.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has since said the mergers were "not off the agenda" and that greater strategic co-operation between forces was needed.Prime Minister Tony Blair has since said the mergers were "not off the agenda" and that greater strategic co-operation between forces was needed.