Taxi Driver Online

A police force defended itself after it emerged it spent more than £20,000 transporting people home from custody by taxi.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed Sussex Police spent £21,617 to take suspects home after arrest in the 11 months up to February 28 this year.

The force said that it took its responsibilities in managing detainees seriously.

However, critics pointed out that many other forces insisted on suspects making their own way home.

James Frayne,
campaign director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Tax bills for the average family are already too high so police forces should not be adding to their problems by spending in this way.

"They should do all they can to help detainees to get home, but under no circumstances should they be putting them in taxis and picking up the bill."

In a statement, Sussex Police said they do not use patrolling police officers to ferry people home, and that they are planning to trial the use of bus vouchers in some cases.

The statement said: "Sussex Police take the issue of managing detainees extremely seriously. Part of this is a duty of care extending to the circumstances of releasing people who have been in custody.

"For some years we have used public transport, including taxis, to ensure that the more vulnerable detainees are returned home or to a place where they where arrested.

"We do not use patrolling police officers for this taxiing task."

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I don't work on a barter system, (or no I don't want your watch, mobile, etc. instead of the fare)

Good job they didn't drop that 's' from 'suspects'.

But it would be one way to get him into a taxi.

(PS - This won't mean anything to non-regular readers of the forum)

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

And not a penny piece went into old Sussex's pockets.

Still if they put the criminals in taxis, then at least they would have had something in common with the drivers.

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IDFIMH

OUCH

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

the thing is we are cheaper.
if they used police cars and two police officer it would hasve cost more.
i would rather have copper on the street than doing our job.
and the moneys nice as well.

Yes indeedy im inclined to agree with you but surely there must be another way. If your banged up then i would say it was up to you to make your own way home. But would i still say that if i was still driving PH possibly not as i would hope to line my pockets too

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

Bitter, very bitter.

I reckon where I work, that would be reversed on a grand scale though.
But thats why we're the worlds best.

Are you hinting that Sussex is a bit Suspect?

Been a while since i've read that.