West Mercia Police spend over £1 million on temp staff in a year
West Mercia Police spent more than £1 million on temporary staff in one year, figures released today reveal.
The bill for the workers was £1,073,733 during the 2014/15 financial year – up significantly from £582,424 the previous year.
In 2012/2013, the force spent £481,151 on casual staff, taking total spending to nearly £2.14 million over the last three years.
The figures were released to the Shropshire Star under the a request using the Freedom of Information Act.
They were today described as "mind-boggling" by John Campion, who is the Conservative candidate to become the next police and crime commissioner in West Mercia.
Mr Campion said it was particularly unfortunate at a time when taxpayers were seeing the amount they pay for policing increase by two per cent.
He said the force needed to be more accountable and that the spending should be broken down so that the public knew how it was spent.
West Mercia Police was not able to reveal how many staff the money was spent on, or what roles they performed
Mr Campion said: "It is mind boggling that millions of taxpayers' cash have been spent on temporary staff working in back room roles with the fact it has been rising year-on-year showing the commissioner has not a grip on finances."
He said the two per cent council tax rise approved last week would squeeze hardworking families.
"A rise is not needed in the first place when the Government has protected the policing budget whilst pumping more money into emerging threats like cyber-crime and extremism," Mr Campion added.
West Mercia Police spokesman Paul Roberts said protecting people living in area's communities was its over-riding priority.
The use of temporary staff enabled it to be flexible and react to challenges as they come, he said.
Mr Roberts added: "The support of police staff, through both permanent and temporary contracts, is imperative in achieving thi.
"Police staff are an invaluable part of the workforce to support frontline policing.
"Temporary and agency staff can often be employed by police forces throughout the country to ensure the workforce has the flexibility to deliver the best quality service to the public."
