West Midlands Police overtime spend rises as number of officers fall
Police overtime payments have gone up more than £3.5 million over the last four years – as the number of officers on the beat falls.
In the 2016/17 financial year, West Midlands Police paid out £15.7m to officers, who worked a combined total of 433,000 hours overtime.
That figure has risen from £11.84m in 2013/14, when officers racked up 365,000 hours of overtime.
The figures, revealed through a Freedom of Information request to the force, come amid concerns police are being put under increased pressure because of falling numbers.
One West Midlands officer, Detective Inspector Warren Hines, even claimed an increasing number of police officers are contemplating suicide as a result of financial pressures put on the force.
Other figures released today reveal that, while extra money is being spent on overtime payments, there are also discrepancies in the amount being paid to officers.
Officers in the West Midlands have been overpaid by £561,365 since 2014, with £188,914 of that cash still outstanding, according to accounts released under an FOI.
The force says overtime payments will fluctuate depending on circumstances. The recent heightened terror alert has meant more officers are needed on the ground.
And overtime is also required of officers in the event of a big demonstration or event. West Midlands Police director of commercial services Neil Chamberlain said: “Through careful planning and robust financial management we always try to keep overtime to a minimum.
“However, the very nature of policing means there will always be a need pay our staff and officers for work undertaken in addition to their contracted hours.
"With the exception of our brilliant volunteers, we don’t expect anyone to have to work for free.
"People would not expect our officers to clock-off at the end of their shift if mid-way through dealing with a dangerous offender or supporting a vulnerable victim.
“While some overtime is proactively targeted to address specific operations at key points in the year, demand for our services can never be fully predicted.
"Therefore, there will always be occasions when overtime is necessary. This includes policing major events like party political conferences and large demonstrations.
“It should be remembered that while these figures may seem high, they do not show how much of this is externally funded and recouped from other bodies.”
