West Mercia Police must cut down the cost of translating information into foreign languages a would-be Police & Crime Commissioner has said John Campion, the Conservative Candidate for the role, who made the comments in response to the force spending £1.1 million pounds on interpreters over a three year period.
The seven-figure sum was spent 2011-2014 with Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian and Russian amongst the languages translated.
John Campion said: “This is fat that definitely needs trimming with £1.1million on translation costs an eye-watering amount for West Mercia to spend.
“We need to save money in this area by working more closely with other public partners and minority communities.
“The priority for our financial resource should always be our hardworking frontline police officers and the local communities they serve.”
A Freedom of Information request by Mr Campion’s office for costs on translations for the 2014/2015 period was rejected by West Mercia Police on the grounds they did not hold the information.
Expenditure by West Mercia Police on Interpreters is as follows:
2011/12 - £390,244.42
2012/13 - £357,439.42
2013/14 - £355,765.45
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