Commons
questions on police
chief perks

Bradford West MP George Galloway has tabled an early day motion asking why the package was kept secret from the public by the West Yorkshire Police Authority (WYPA), which agreed it.

Bonus payments and allowances made to Sir Norman, which included more than £34,000 a year for a private car on top of his £160,000 basic salary in 2007, were in a Yorkshire Post investigation.

Now Mr Galloway is demanding West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson – the former chairman of the authority – publish all correspondence and minutes of meetings held in relation to the deal.

“This sweetheart deal gave Bettison more than £34,000 a year for a private car, although he already had a police one and driver,” said Mr Galloway. “Additionally he got private medical insurance, gym membership and other personal benefits. So in total he must have received over £200,000 in public money, which the public knew nothing about, over and above his salary.

“My motion asks why this deal was done behind closed doors and shrouded from scrutiny. And if it is argued that it was a good deal for the taxpayer then why wasn’t the taxpayer told about it at the time?”

Sir Norman continued to receive the enhanced package, which included private health insurance and gym membership, until he resigned last October amid fierce criticism of his role in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.

His alleged part in the police cover-up of the 1989 tragedy is currently being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), as are claims he attempted to smear a witness appearing before the 1998 inquiry into the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence.