Watch those expense accounts Mr Otter!

The 2007 expense accounts for the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Stephen Otter, can be found here.

The highest cost, it will be seen, is rail travel between Devon and London.

Judging from his expenses, Mr Otter travelled and stayed in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s on two, possibly three, occasions. On one of his trips to Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly, Mr Otter paid a whopping £145.00 for accommodation for one night. Where on earth did he stay?

Another point to highlight also involves Mr Otter’s trip to Cornwall, which involved a short haul flight. With Devon and Cornwall police stating in their ‘Interim Capital Strategy’ for 2008 – 2020 that they are committed “to reducing [their carbon footprint”, short haul flights should be avoided at all costs.

With the exception of these items though, there is nothing particulary contraversial in the Chief Constables expense account, although this is open to debate. With a substantial increase in the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s share of Council Tax and with environmental campaigners, like Rising Tide UK, protesting against the increase of short haul flights from Cornwall airports, Mr Otter should take into more serious consideration how he spends public money.