True cost of police commissioner is £550,000

The annual staffing budget for the office of West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore is £550,000 for 2012/13.

But his deputy Barrie Sheldon said today the pair hope to make major savings on what the now-defunct West Mercia Police Authority cost to run. The figure has been made public following a Freedom of Information request by the Shropshire Star.

It is £20,000 more than the equivalent cost of staffing the West Mercia Police Authority last year.

And the budget does not include the wages of Mr Longmore or Mr Sheldon. Mr Longmore's salary is £75,000, and Mr Sheldon is on £50,000.

The structure allows for 12 workers to support Mr Longmore, including a chief executive, three policy officers and two admin staff.

Six posts are currently filled directly, with a criminal justice manager and secretary on secondment.

A review is taking place to decide whether to appoint a new personal assistant for Mr Longmore.

A response to the FoI request said: "The annual staffing budget, including all on costs, is £550,000 in 2012/13. In 2011/12 the equivalent cost was £530,000."

Mr Sheldon said: "These are budget figures rather than actual costs – we will be spending a lot less than that." He said the chief and deputy finance officers' posts will be shared with Warwickshire PCC and further savings should come about after the dismantling of the old police authority.

He said: "That is the staffing budget, but the police authority cost about £340,000 in expenses and allowances. We hope to save about £100,000. We intend to do everything a bit cheaper than the previous police authority."

Shropshire Council chairman Malcolm Pate, who sits on the West Mercia Police and Crime Panel, said of the costs: "It doesn't surprise me because the job was far too big for one person."