Exclusive: New blow for Tour as row erupts over cost of policing

Julia Mulligan says a “lack of clarity” over policing costs by the team behind Yorkshire’s successful bid has put North Yorkshire Police, which is responsible for 60 per cent of the route, in a “very difficult position”.

Three Yorkshire forces will be among those providing hundreds of officers on July 5 and 6, next year to ensure the safety of spectators and cyclists on the opening days of the sport’s most famous race.

But in a letter to Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, seen by the Yorkshire Post, Mrs Mulligan said the “largest part” of policing costs would fall to North Yorkshire Police.

She said: “I was very disappointed that in your bid to host this fantastic event, you did not seem to include realistic policing costs in your budgeting, and you did not consult North Yorkshire Police in your calculations for the bid.

“It has now fallen to us to pick up that cost. The initial lack of clarity from yourselves when bidding for this event has left us in a very difficult position as the public sector is under enormous pressure at the moment, with North Yorkshire being no different.”

Mrs Mulligan, who was elected as police and crime commissioner last year, said the budget for policing costs in Yorkshire’s original bid document was “not adequate for the actual cost”.

The row is the latest to emerge over the way Welcome to Yorkshire circumnavigated the official channels to secure the showpiece event, beating the Government’s own Scottish-based bid.

The chairman of the organising group for the Grand Départ 2014 admits the issue of policing costs is “something that needs addressing” but said the £10m in Government funding granted earlier this year would not be used to pay for this.

The police and crime commissioner for West Yorkshire, which will also host a significant proportion of the route, has echoed Mrs Mulligan’s concerns. Mark Burns-Williamson said extra help has “never been as necessary as it is now” as a result of shrinking police budgets.

Forces in Yorkshire and the Humber will have to find savings of more than £100m by 2018 due to the combination of rising costs and cuts to Government funding.

Mr Burns-Williamson said he was a “huge supporter” of the event but warned that officials “need to be mindful about the significant costs associated with ensuring the safety” of those involved.

He said: “World-renowned events like the Tour bring in much-needed revenue to local business and the Government and I believe it’s quite right that organisations that have significant extra demands placed upon them should be supported centrally and their involvement in something as fantastic as the Tour should not be to their detriment.”

Though the Amaury Sport Organisation, which runs the Tour as a whole, will be sending a logistics team to Yorkshire and specialist French gendarmes will be on hand, local police forces will still have a major role in overseeing road closures and making sure cyclists and fans are kept safe.

Mrs Mulligan said the Grand Départ would be a “fantastic showpiece” for Yorkshire but not enough had been done to understand policing costs.

She said: “It is going to take some significant policing. Large areas of the Yorkshire Dales will need to be policed and it will be a big operation.”

Earlier this year the Government announced it would provide up to £10m in funding towards the £21m cost of the two Yorkshire stages and the third stage from Cambridge to London.

Sir Rodney Walker, chair of the Grand Départ organising committee, TDF 2014 Ltd, said the cost of policing was “one of the issues we know we still have to address”.

“We do have a view that some people think the policing costs are likely to be more than we believe they need to be. Discussions are ongoing,” he said.

“It is far too early to be concerned about this but it is an issue about which I am aware. Within the remit I have from Government there is no prospect of me being able to make any contribution from the £10m I have been given.”

Police officers, community support officers and special constables will be required for the Tour, meaning their day-to-day roles will need to be filled.

West Yorkshire Police’s assistant chief constable Mark Milsom, who is gold commander for the event, said: “There are costs involved but we do understand this is about the bigger picture.

“This is about Yorkshire and promoting the region internationally. If we can make a big contribution to a high-profile, successful, safe event, we are really keen to be doing so.”

A spokesman for Leeds City Council, which has been responsible for drawing up budgets for the Grand Départ, said discussions were “ongoing”.

He said: “Local authorities are currently in discussions with police forces along the route to assess and finalise what will be needed to deliver a safe, enjoyable and memorable Grand Départ.”