North Yorkshire PCC 'Second Least Efficient In England & Wales'

North Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioners Office isn't offering taxpayers value for money.

New figures from the Taxpayers Alliance show it's the second most inefficient office of its kind in England and Wales.

The role of Police and Crime Commissioner was established in 2013, replacing the old system of Police Authorities.

Since the change, North Yorkshire PCC have increased their spending by 32.4 per cent, spending over £400,000 more since the office was created.

The report recommends that the office makes savings of around £1.3 million, which could then be pumped back into day-to-day policing.

Andy Silvester is from the Taxpayers Alliance; he said: "The spend is £2700 per 1000 residents, now we've got other parts of the country where it's around £700."

"So clearly, they're doing the same job but just doing it in very different ways and spending a lot more money."

PCC Julie Mulligan has denied these claims, saying the report is merely out to grab headlines and their figures are two years out of date.

In a statement, she said: “The public of North Yorkshire can be reassured that my office will cost over half a million pounds less compared to the Police Authority over my term of office, which equates to about £150,000 cheaper each year."

"A huge saving that is being pumped back into local policing."

Meanwhile in Teesside, Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioners Office have made savings of almost half a million pounds since 2013.

They've managed to decrease their budget by 34.9 per cent.

PCC Barry Coppinger says they've made every cut imaginable, as well as taking on extra workloads.

He said: "Whilst the Taxpayers Alliance report is very hard hitting, there will be different views about the details of it."

"From my point of view, I'm proud of the work we've done in Cleveland."