14 November 2008
By Vivienne Russell
The taxpayer will have to pay out more than £30m to fund directly elected police representatives, research suggests.
A Local Government Association survey, published on November 12, found the elections would cost an estimated £31.9m, a sum that could fund 700 extra police officers.
The LGA branded the elections a 'pointless waste of money' while public sector budgets are under enormous strain.
LGA chair Margaret Eaton said: 'At a time when the whole country is having to tighten its belt and the government's cupboard is bare, here they are suggesting spending tens of millions on elections that are completely unnecessary.
'This money could be spent putting hundreds of extra police officers on our streets, at the front line of the fight against crime. It's vital local people have a say in how their area is policed, but introducing these elections is absurd.'
The policing green paper, published in July, proposed that some members of police authority boards should be elected directly by the public. Local government leaders have consistently criticised the idea, saying they would undermine partnership working.
Paul McKeever, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: 'We have grave concerns about the potential impact on policing that this research raises. Police officers pride themselves on political independence. The notion that police authorities could be open to greater political influence is in direct contrast to this basic principle.'
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