Crime tsar urged to cut deputy’s expenses

Humberside Police Commissioner Matthew Grove claims 45p per mile when using his car on official business, in line with the rate set by HM Revenue & Customs.

But his deputy Paul Robinson claims 65p per mile, which his office said was the rate paid to all police staff in the force.

Andrew Allison, nation grassroots co-ordinator of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said this had led to an “additional” cost of £508 on Mr Robinson’s expenses claimed between January and August.

He added: “What we currently don’t know is how much has been claimed by other staff. This generous mileage rate could easily cost taxpayers thousands of pounds, wiping out some of the savings Mr Robinson has made elsewhere.

“I do not want to see the PCC’s staff out of pocket when they use their own car for official business, however, paying 65p per mile is a generous taxpayer-funded perk - a perk that Hull City Council is planning to eliminate.”

On one occasion, July 8, Mr Grove entered a claim of just 45p for a solitary mile travelled to a meeting in Hull, which Mr Allison called “pathetic”.

Mr Grove said his staff usually filled in the forms for him and claimed the minimum distance, whatever route he took.

“I have never had a limousine or a chauffeur and I’ve never claimed a taxi,” he said.

“I drive myself everywhere, even though I often start at five o’ clock in the morning. I have never claimed for a single morsel of food.

“As for my staff, all their salaries and terms and conditions are set by national agreement and if we started varying them it can create a huge amount of work.

“Paul is doing nothing unusual.”