Essex: Ex-Police Chief Paid Not To Quit

4 July 2013, 18:39 | Updated: 4 July 2013, 18:42

A former Essex police chief was paid a £60,000 bonus which fell outside national agreements, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner has revealed.

The sums - described as retention payments and aimed at encouraging the officer not to leave his post - were made to former Essex chief constable Roger Baker, who now serves as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary. 

They were disclosed by the county's PCC Nick Alston as he called for a review of bonuses in police forces. 

Disclosing the payments after the salary offered to the force's new chief constable attracted criticism, Mr Alston said the full remuneration of top officers was often not made public and that there was a need for openness and transparency in chief officer pay. 

"I am advised by Essex Police finance department that the then chief constable received two payments which were outside the national Police Negotiating Board agreements,'' he said. 

"These were described as 'retention payments' amounting to £30,000 in each of 2008-9 and 2009-10, and formed part of the overall bonus figure. 

"Those decisions were made by the then police authority. However, much of the rationale for their decision making is not in the public domain. 

"In the interests of transparency and openness my judgment is that, in future, it should be.'' 

Mr Baker has not commented on the payments. Earlier this year the salary offered to new Essex chief constable Stephen Kavanagh came under criticism. 

Following his appointment in May, it was disclosed Mr Kavanagh would earn £192,000 a year - £17,000 more than his predecessor. 

Mr Alston said: "I consider it essential that we have complete openness and transparency about the remuneration we pay to all our officers, including chief officers. 

"It is a vital part of ensuring the continuation of trust and respect on which our policing tradition is based. 

"In any future discussion about chief officer remuneration, I consider it important that all allowances and bonuses are included so we can make life-for-like comparisons across forces. 

"Therefore, I am renewing my call for a national review of chief officer allowances and bonuses to guarantee consistency and accountability, and reinforce public trust. 

"I would also encourage all PCCs and all chief constables to ensure that full details of our remuneration and allowances are published to demonstrate our integrity.''