Cheshire Police Commissioner called on to apologise for misleading public over cost of Land Rover

Recent Freedom of Information data shows that the Cheshire Police Commissioner, Dan Price’s Land Rover has cost the taxpayer more than three times as much as just claiming business mileage over the same period.

This comes after repeated assertions, from Dan Price, that he was saving money by using the Land Rover – claims now exposed to have been misleading.

Dan Price’s Land Rover has done 4,373 miles – had he just used his own car and claimed expenses for mileage at 45p a mile – it would have cost the taxpayer a little under £2,000.

Yet so far – the PCC has spent well in excess of £6,000 on his Land Rover.

Commenting, Adrian Waddelove, Leader of the Conservative Group on Cheshire West and Chester Council said:

“Last week I called out Dan Price, Cheshire Police Commissioner, for spending taxpayer money on a luxury Land Rover.

“In response the PCC angrily insisted that he is saving the public money by spending on the Land Rover – and this is all some dirt-digging exercise.

“But the numbers don’t lie. Far from saving money, as he claims, Dan’s Land Rover is more than three times the cost of just claiming business mileage.

“So, either Dan Price has told a bare-faced lie – to cover up the fact that he has spent thousands of pounds of taxpayer money on a luxury Land Rover while putting up council tax by double the rate of inflation and making PCSOs redundant – or the figures his own office provided to my freedom of information request are wrong.

“I know which one I think it is.

“Dan Price should now return the Land Rover, issue an apology and pay back the costs.”

Responding to Councillor Waddelove's claims, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price said:

“I know this may blow Adrian’s mind, but two or more people can travel in a pool car. That saves fuel, time, parking costs and individual mileage claims. Importantly, it also means we can use journey time to work while we travel across Cheshire.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner leased this car almost a year ago now for people who work there to use as a pool car. That’s it. 

What does waste tax payers' money is when my team have to spend time responding to bizarre claims like this. Adrian, stop wasting everyone’s time and get on with your actual job.” 

Pictured - Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price.