Fuel costs blamed for overspend

The rising cost of fuel and conducting major investigations are being blamed for an overspend by Suffolk Police.

The county's police authority said the force had spent about £500,000 more than originally budgeted for the year to April 2008.

Figures released by Suffolk Police Authority said fuel costs for police cars and the force helicopter rose were £110,000 higher than expected.

It had initially expected fuel bills would go £65,000 over-budget.

'Difficult to control'

Gulshan Kiumbe, the chairman of the Suffolk Police Authority, said a number of large-scale crime investigations held had added to costs.

"We did have a projected overspend, initially on fuel by about £65,000 and that rose to £176,000," she said.

"It's difficult to control and it goes back to saying to Central Government actually you need to think of how much of a settlement you're giving us.

"The 2.3% we had last year, [which] might be lower next year, is not helping us in terms of maintaining the best service we would like to give to the people of Suffolk."