Sussex Police short-changed by Government

Commenting on the Government’s announcement of the money that it will reimburse Sussex Police for the costs it incurred during the abandoned police mergers project, Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert, said:

"Once again, Sussex Police are being short-changed, with the Government reimbursing less than a fifth of the amount they were forced to spend on preparing for force mergers.  In any case, the funds will almost certainly be raided from the police budget.  Resources that could have been used to put officers on the beat have been wasted on a plan which we warned wouldn't work."

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. Following the Government's decision to abandon forced police mergers on 12 July 2006, Sussex Police Authority invoiced the Home Office for £1 million to cover the costs it had incurred during the merger process.

2. In response to Sussex's claim, and those of other forces across England and Wales, the Home Office stated that it would only meet "additional costs", rather than those which resulted from diverting existing staff from their normal duties.

3. The Government announced, via a Written Ministerial Statement, on Monday 30 October 2006, that of its lower claim of £519,879, Sussex Police would receive just £100,000 (the limit at which the Government has capped compensation).