Security for Gordon Brown holiday costly for Suffolk police

Last year’s two-week summer holiday for the British Prime Minister cost a local police force around £160,000, it was learned early this week.

Police in Suffolk reported spending the amount on security arrangements for his stay in Shadingfield, near Southwold, Suffolk, at the end of July and early August.

The Suffolk Constabulary had written to the government in hopes of being reimbursed for the expense.

“We can confirm that we have requested funds to cover the costs of the Prime Minster’s visit to Suffolk last summer,” a spokeswoman for the Suffolk police said. “The constabulary incurred considerable cost to pay for the security operation for the visit. These costs had not been part of our planned budget and have placed pressure on our finances.”

She added: “We have written to Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for policing, security and crime, to try to recoup these costs.”

A spokeswoman for the Home Office indicated that the request would be considered. “If a local police force has to incur additional policing costs for a Government event, then the police authority can request special grant support from the Home Secretary.”

“This is a discretionary grant and the level of support depends on the relative size of the authority’s reserves and the force’s capability to deal with major incidents.”

Thanks to www.theherald.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.suffolk.police.uk