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Last Updated: Monday, 30 October 2006, 15:59 GMT
Police lose �290K in merger costs
Devon and Cornwall police bikes
The force said they found it a "useful exercise" for planning
Police in Devon and Cornwall say they are "disappointed" by the government's compensation offer for their work on the failed super-forces merger.

The force spent �320,000, but it will get only �28,000 back.

Plans to cut the number of forces from 43 to 24 were abandoned in July after widespread police opposition.

English and Welsh forces wanted �6.5m compensation, but received �4m, which the government said was fair given the "wide disparity" in claims.

Policing Minister Tony McNulty said "other factors" included affordability of the total amount due to be paid, and where costs had been incurred in response to specific requests by the Home Office.

'Great expense'

But the West Country force's acting deputy chief constable, Tony Melville, said: "This has incurred a great deal of expense and I am disappointed that less than 10% of the cost of the business case has been reimbursed."

He added it had proved a "useful exercise" in the longer term planning of the direction of the force.

He said: "It will help us build on the success of neighbourhood policing and ensure that we have the capacity and capability in counter-terrorism, cross-border and major crime, civil contingencies and roads policing."


SEE ALSO
Police 'regret' at merger payouts
30 Oct 06 |  UK Politics
Police mergers 'still on agenda'
12 Jul 06 |  UK Politics
Forces back out of merger plans
10 Jul 06 |  Lancashire

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