THE aborted G4S deal which could have outsourced some of the county’s police services has racked up an estimated bill of nearly £544,000.

Herts, Beds and Cambs police were looking to outsource management of several departments to private security firm G4S in a bid to address a £73 million shortfall in government funding.

Discussions with the firm came to an end last month as a result of a decision taken by the three forces’ new police and crime commissioners (PCCs).

And now it has come to light the exercise is thought to have cost £543,853 – with Hertfordshire’s share of the bill totalling £243,000.

Neal Alston, chair of Herts Police Federation, said: “It is unfortunate that the money has been spent at a time when every penny is really important to the delivery of policing.

“We recognise this is a decision taken by three authorities and the PCCs have relooked at that decision and chosen not to go forward.”

He commented that despite being assured exploring the G4S deal would help the authority consider other outsourcing options he was not convinced the money had not been wasted.

A Herts Police spokesman said: “The potential option of outsourcing via the Lincolnshire Police framework, with G4S as the supplier, for the delivery of our organisational support functions was an avenue that it was right to fully explore.

“The information gathered during this process has not been wasted and will prove extremely valuable as we look as a force, and as a Strategic Alliance, at further options for making savings.”

The figures recorded by the force represent costs which are known to have been occurred to date and estimated costs which have not yet been invoiced.

Herts PCC David Lloyd said: “Herts pays a larger proportion of these costs because Herts would benefit from a larger proportion of the savings. Most of this work will have continuing benefit as we continue to review how these services are delivered.

“However, I am acutely aware of the need to ensure that the Herts taxpayer achieves value from all of our collaboration work and other initiatives. This will continue to be one of my top priorities.”