North Wales Police Cars

[Kickstart]

Where Welsh speeding taxes get spent?

https://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/tm_objectid=14077632%26method=full%26siteid=50142%26headline=top%2dcops%2dget%2dluxury%2dcars-name_page.html

Top cops get luxury cars Mar 20 2004

By Carl Butler And Matt Withers, Daily Post

NORTH Wales Police were last night urged to justify spending on a fleet ofluxury cars for senior officers and civilian staff.

A number of superintendents and civilian bosses have been handed Mercedes, BMWs and Audis as council tax payers face massive increases in the amount charged for police services.

The Police Federation yesterday revealed it had asked for financial details about the cars more than two months ago but was still awaiting answers.

North Wales Federation Secretary Richard Eccles said: "There was some disquiet and concern expressed by officers towards the back end of last year in relation to these cars appearing in the force and we raised these concerns at a meeting with senior managers early in December.

"We were promised an explanation of the scheme and documentation to show how the scheme works and I am still waiting for this information.

"I imagine there would be concern from members of the public, on the same lines as the concerns raised by officers we represent.

"There might be a business case for them to be doing this but do the cars have to be at this level when our members are driving around in Ford Focus's and have to get on with the job.

"This was on the agenda of our meeting in December and as yet I have not been given any details of the scheme. If there was some transparency we could tell the bobbies 'this is how it is financed'.

"I am sure there will be some irate members of the public who must be thinking they would not have accepted the 19pc police precept increase so quietly."

The North Wales police precept, which is billed with the council tax, went up 31pc last year.

This year's 19pc rise was agreed after Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom warned any less would see a reduction in the number of police officers.

A North Wales Police spokeswoman yesterday refused to answer a series of detailed questions about the size of the luxury fleet, its cost and whether the unmarked cars were fitted with sirens and flashing lights which could allow certain tax benefits.

Instead, she pointed to North Wales Police Authority which agreed the scheme at the end of December, 2000.

At the meeting, the authority had already agreed to provide a car for the new chief constable, Richard Brunstrom and outgoing chief constable Michael Argent said he wanted to extend the new scheme to around 20 chief officers and heads of department with "forcewide opera-tional or business responsibilities".

At that time private cars were being used and allowances and claims made for running them.

This was costly, poor value for money and did not meet operational and business needs, according to Mr Argent.

Instead, the authority accepted a lease deal to provide cars for the deputy chief constable, assistant chief constable and director of finance and resources.

New vehicles equipped with radios, telephones, blue lights and other equipment would cost between £5,000 and £7,000 each a year to lease for the three officers - a total of £19,000 a year, which was about £4,000 more expensive than the existing scheme and the extra would be met by efficiency savings.

A report said the new system would mean chief officers would have the cars and equipment to move swiftly to take command at incidents.

Mr Argent ended his report: "I intend with your support to extend these arrangement to divisional commanders, other superintendents on call and those heads of departments with force-wide operational or business responsibilities.

"The individual cost will be in the range of £4,000 to £6,000. Savings will be made in the current fleet and from travelling allowances. The total additional cost will be less than £2,000 for up to 20 individuals, a total of £40,000. This net cost will be met from reduced bureaucracy and other efficiencies."

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said yesterday: "This scheme was adopted in 2000 during the tenure of Michael Argent, the previous chief constable. Questions regarding the financial viability and administration of the scheme can be raised with members of the Police Authority who in turn can request the report as an agenda item for discussion at one of their regular meetings."

It is believed at least half a dozen luxury cars have been provided in recent months.

Among the senior staff thought to have benefited from the scheme is force IT manager Geoff Bradley, who drives a black Mercedes C180 Kompressor. They sell at around £20,020.

Acting Assistant Chief Constable Steve Curtis also drives a brand-new black Mercedes C180 Kompressor, believed to be provided by the force.

North Wales Conservative AM Brynle Williams last night demanded the police authority "come clean" and give details of car costs for senior officials.

And Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd called for a "root and branch" review of expenditure to try to find savings.

Mr Williams said: "I heard rumours a couple of months ago and I asked how come the police were providing Mercedes and I was told it was something agreed at a meeting a few years ago.

"I am very, very sorry but I think it's time the police authority came
clean.

"Whether they are leasing the vehicles or not at the end of the day they are simply working vehicles and I'm sure they could manage with a Ford Focus or something which is more economical to run.

"We have the right as ratepayers to know exactly what is going on. I have been backing the police in saying the service is getting overstretched and I know their job is getting harder and harder. If the police was a private company I could understand but I really take offence when the police start paying for this kind of vehicle.

"I don't want the chief constable running around in a mini van, he and his deputy should have cars which befit their rank. But the others are paid very good salaries and can provide their own cars.

"If someone wants to know my salary and my expenses as an AM they are entitled to know and the police force must be able to face the same public scrutiny."

Elfyn Llwyd MP added: "With the ever increasing police precept I feel sure there should be a review of this head of expenditure which has nothing to do with front line policing.

"I am sure savings can be effected if there is a root and branch review of this kind of expenditure."

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Mattastic]

There is a BMW M5 traffic car which I see regular which must cost £50k+ in normal road guise.
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Too skint to buy a bike

[Ste]

They've got an BMW X5 in Hampshire. Those things aren't very quick though .

[Dr Nick]

I've seen a Mondeo ST220 i think it was in Police Livery, Made me want to join the Police force . And i think i've seen a ST170 Focus as well not to sure though. Nice to see where our taxes are going .
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is that it

[ZaphodBeeble]

It's bloody ridiculous. Nothing more to say.
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Current bike: VTR1000F Firestorm. Previous: Firestorm (written off) - XJ600 Divvy - NSR125 - DT125 and a load of offroaders.

[Danny]

The Police in Central London (the ones in red cars) seem to have very very flash cars. Although I'm not even sure what these police do.

[James]

When rozzers start driving cars of that caliber, its the beginning of the end. On sunday nights back home in pontefract they have some seriously nice gear at their disposle. At least two ST220's, god knows how many T5's and shit loads of vans which we suspect have recording equipment inside.

Makes me really sick because when i was skint and 16 years old, some f*cker nicked my ts50 and left me heart broken. The rozzers pulled out all the stops and gave me......a crime number
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Like shit off a stick