Force’s expenses for ex-deputy’s relocation reaches £28,000 total
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Police have made a further payment of more than £9,000 towards relocation expenses for a former Deputy Chief Constable, bringing the total bill to more than £28,000.
It has previously been revealed that Dawn Copley, who spent just 18 months with the force before retiring, received £19,143 in the 2016/17 financial year to cover her move from Greater Manchester Police.
South Yorkshire’s latest accounts for 2017/18 show Ms Copley was paid a further £9,154 to bring the total payment made by the force to £28,287.
The force said it had to pay the extra money to ensure there was no tax burden at all on the former deputy chief who joined in October 2015 and retired in April last year.
A spokeswoman said Ms Copley had been required to pay around £5,000 in income tax on the expenses in 2016/17, when her total pay package amounted to £185,918.
As a result she had to be paid a further £9,154 in the following financial year which, after tax, ensured she wasn’t out of pocket.
The force said the further payment was due to national police regulations for chief police officers which meant “all tax liabilities incurred through the payment of relocation will be made good by the force and repaid so the late payment has been paid to rectify
the liability.” In common with forces across the country South Yorkshire has had to endure millions of pounds of budget cuts over recent years.
However, the force’s spokeswoman did not respond when asked whether the expenditure represented a reasonable use of public money.
The relocation bill would have covered the annual salary of a police constable.
Ms Copley’s expenses included just over £7,500 for rented accommodation and more than £9,000 on solicitor fees to buy a new house.
All the claims were within the rules, which do not include an upper limit for relocation expenses.
A previously disclosed freedom of information response included an internal letter sent by Ms Copley which highlighted the regulations allowed for “further claims to be made for redecoration, carpets, curtains, white goods etc” but pointed out she would not be making them.
Under general tax rules, the first £8,000 of relocation expenses are tax free with any further amount liable to tax at the normal rate applicable to the individual’s income.
But national police regulations go further and state chief officers should not have to pay any tax, regardless of how much they claim for relocation.
There is no repayment clause should a chief officer leave their job after a short period in post.
The Home Office, which is responsible for the regulations, has previously declined to comment on whether the relocation scheme represents value for public money.
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, who sets the force’s budget, told The Yorkshire Post: “Relocation expenses are Force policy and apply to all police forces in the country.
“When the Chief Constable of any police force recruits a Deputy Chief Constable, the post holder is often required to relocate or commute in to the force area.”
Dr Billings added: “DCC Copley decided to relocate to South Yorkshire, which is her entitlement to do so.”