POLICE authorities across the region have been reviewing their members' expenses this week.

An independent panel set up by the Association of Police Authorities (APA) recommended that members get a fixed rate instead of the current entitlement of £17 an hour.

Under new guidelines, the basic allowance has risen from a maximum of £7,500 a year to £10,500, while chairmen can claim up to £23,100 - an increase of nearly £12,000.

Durham Police Authority members yesterday agreed to adopt the new tariffs, a move which will cost the taxpayer about £49,000 a year.

The basic allowance has risen to £3,500 a year, with the chairman receiving an extra £11,900 - the equivalent of nearly £1,000 a month.

Durham Police Authority chairman Joe Knox defended the decision to take the cash increase, saying the money paid by the police force would not affect day-to-day policing in the county.

He said: "This money does not eat into the force's policing budget. It is ring-fenced to deal with expenses.

"People should realise that, without a police authority, there would not be a police force in the first place.

"We work extremely hard and have a massive workload, which does not begin and end with quarterly meetings.

"All members have at least two other meeting responsibilities, correspondence to deal with and preparations for meetings.

"The expenses system had to change because the money used to run out quickly and the amount of bureaucracy was frustrating."

Meanwhile, the region's other police authorities have also responded to the APA's recommendations.

North Yorkshire members voted to accept £7,000 for the basic allowance and £14,000 for the chairman, while Cleveland agreed to maintain the old hourly rate system. Northumbria are maintaining the old system until December 31, but will review their policy next month.