The use of a car by West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, which was confiscated from a drug dealer, has been criticised.
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports that a Kirklees councillor says the Audi A4 should be sold and the money ploughed into local policing.
However, the car is seven years old and, while it would have cost £25,000 when new, it would only be worth in the region of £5,000 today.
Speaking at a full Kirklees Council meeting, Lib Dem Clr Phil Scott said: “This vehicle should be sold and the money spent on local policing in communities.”
West Yorkshire Police say that the “PCC uses his own car, but along with all staff working within the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, he has use of a seven-year-old Audi A4 vehicle, which was seized following a forfeiture order against a man who was using the vehicle to deal drugs.”
And, Burns-Williamson hit back by saying that: “Re-using the vehicle saves the public a significant amount of money, which would otherwise be incurred through business mileage claims or the commercial hire of vehicles.
“This forms part of ongoing efficiency savings to ensure we continue to cost the public less than the previous police authority.”
Carl Nicholson - 31/03/2014 12:00
This is superb use of resources and an innovative way of saving on procurement costs, role conversions and all the other affore mentioned costs. As a fleet manager in the public sector we have done a similar thing in the past with a surrendered vehicle, all be it it was a much older citroen. the whole life costs of using it where vastly cheaper than buying a new pool car.