The cost of temporary staff at Avon and Somerset police has nearly doubled in the past year as permanent workers have lost their jobs. Staff numbers have fallen by 131 people in the past five years, but the constabulary has dramatically increased its agency bill during the past two years.
A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that in 2013/2014 the force spent £570,885.11 on temping staff. But that rose by more than 70 per cent to £974,300.47 between April 2014 and the end of February this year.