Sussex Police lose out on merger costs

1.52.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Nov 2006

Sussex Police have lost £419,879 of the money they spent preparing for the force mergers which were abandoned in July.

The mergers were opposed by the Liberal Democrats and the dropping of the merger plans welcomed. It has now been revealed that of the total £519,879 that Sussex Police spent on preparing for the merger, only £100,000 will be refunded by the Government.

Commenting on the news, Northgate Liberal Democrat Councillor Gordon Seekings said "This is a slap in the face for taxpayers and the police alike. Millions of pounds have been spent nationally on this unnecessary, harebrained scheme, and now the police are not getting anywhere near the compensation they deserve for the disruption inflicted on them by this ministerial wheeze."