Coronavirus costs South Yorkshire Police more than £2million - with more to be spent

The Covid pandemic has so far cost South Yorkshire Police more than £2m, with a further £550,000 expected to be spent.
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The majority of the cash is made up of overtime, which amounted to £1.18m between April and September.

The remainder is made up of £41,000 on pay and employee costs, £12,000 on cleaning products, £21,000 on first aid equipment, and £7,000 on IT costs.

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A total of £76,000 has been spent on PPE, of which the Home Office will reimburse £47,000.

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

A report to South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings outlines a £1.75m overspend for the financial year, which is 0.66 per cent of the total budget.

This includes £2.67m of direct Covid-19 related expenditure with further loss of income of £0.56m.

Police officers' pay and overtime is expected to come to a £3m overspend over the year.

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The report adds: "This overspend is due to being 8.46 full-time equivalent officers, having 16 fewer leavers and retirements than projected in the first half of the year.

"The main reason for the reduced number of leavers is thought to be related to Covid-19 and the current job market with fewer opportunities.

"Other police pay headings including unsocial hours and untaken leave are also projected to overspend by £23,000, mainly due to Covid-19."

Overtime costs in Sheffield and Rotherham have been partly offset by underspend in the football policing budget, and "operational contingency".

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.