Notts: Police costs soar due to ‘retiring’ officers

As Notts Police face further cuts to front line services, the cost of defending court cases against ‘retired’ officers continues to climb.
Paddy TippingPaddy Tipping
Paddy Tipping

As part of cost-cutting measures adopted by the force, a number of police officers who had served 30 years or more, were forced to retire under the A19 Sanction.

But in a high-profile case,a group of officers, many of whom were high-ranking experienced staff, took the force to an industrial tribunal earlier this year and won their claim through indirect age discrimination.

The force has appealed the decision, which is still waiting to be heard, but so far the cost of the case to the tax-payer sits at £90,838.30.

This information was gathered through a Freedom Of Information request.

Despite the high costs to the constabulary, they continue to defend their actions saying more cash has been saved in the sanction than spent.

However, many of the staff ‘retired’ in the cull have been re-hired as consultants or agency staff and some even on permanent contracts at a cost of over £593,000 in the past two years alone.

Police and crime commissioner, Paddy Tipping, said the sanction was used as a way to save cash. He said: “The decision was taken by the former police authority before I was elected in 2012. However, I do appreciate that they had to take difficult decisions in very tight timescales in order to meet the funding cuts required by the Government.”

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