Devon and Cornwall Police chief Otter defends wage

The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall has rejected criticism of his £175,000 salary and allowances.

Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon MP, cited Stephen Otter's pay during a debate in the Commons about public sector salaries.

He also pointed out that five senior officers in the force earned six-figure salaries.

Mr Otter said he understood concern about public sector wages but felt he earned his salary.

Mr Streeter told the Commons: "I think he's a good chief constable doing a very good job.

'Apples and pears'

"But he is being paid broadly the same as the prime minister.

"I find it hard to understand why people in the public sector can justify salaries of that magnitude."

I feel I do a very good job for Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Stephen Otter

Mr Otter said that his salary without allowances was £142,000.

He said: "I completely understand why people are challenging public sector pay.

"But my pay is set nationally to try and reflect the scale of the policing job.

"I feel I do a very good job for Devon and Cornwall."

He said that his pay was "actually relatively low" when compared to local authority chief executives.

"I think we have got to be careful not to compare apples and pears," he said.

I find it hard to understand why people in the public sector...can justify salaries of that magnitude Gary Streeter MP The debate: From BBC Democracy Live

"I take full responsibility for the policing of Devon, Cornwall, Torbay, Plymouth and Isles of Scilly with a budget of £257m and I take that responsibility personally on my shoulders."

He said he had rejected a bonus in 2009 because the force was shedding support staff.

"So I have made that step and I think it's really important that I have done everything I can within my power to make sure that I am clearly living within the means of the organisation as it is at the moment, with all the difficulties that we face."

The force has shed about 250 support staff jobs in the last two years and expects more to go in the future.

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