UK Overtime Payments to Police Reached $9Mln in 2014 Due to Staff Shortages

UK police officers from 39 departments nationwide reportedly received a total of £6 million for overtime work in 2014.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — UK police officers from 39 departments nationwide received a total of £6 million ($9.4 million) for overtime work in 2014 to compensate for staff shortages in law enforcement, a Freedom of Information request by BBC Radio 5 Live revealed Wednesday.

"This means the department has been carrying a significant number of vacancies, resulting in an increased need for planned overtime," police inspector Tony Morris told the BBC.

One London Metropolitan Police Officer was paid 45,000 pounds ($70,000) for his overtime work in 2014-2015, the broadcaster said.

The UK Home Office told the BBC that the government "has already taken steps to reduce unnecessary overtime payments."

The forces worked extra hours only when it was essential and inevitable, the BBC said, adding the overtime money was often paid to officers in "very specialist roles," which only a limited number of staff was able to perform.

In recent years, numerous reports have appeared about officers significantly multiplying their salaries by working extra hours.