By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 18:20, Friday, 08 February 2013

Return flights to Germany, restaurant bills and hotel stays are among the items paid for by the public purse for suspended police chief Stuart Hyde.

Stuart Hyde

Between April 2010 and April 2011, Mr Hyde, then deputy chief constable, claimed return flights from Munich to Manchester, with German airline Lufthansa and expenses for a hotel stay in Bahrain.

The figures, revealed following a Freedom of Information request, show Mr Hyde claimed £5,643.54 on a corporate credit card.

On February 18 last year, he spent £275.02 on return flights from Munich to Manchester with Lufthansa to fly back to the UK from his holiday to attend a conference, before again using public funds to return to Munich.

Claims also include £130 for public transport and parking for a Cumbria County Council civic dinner in May 2010.

In 2011 he used the card to pay for a £133.50 stay at South Yorkshire hotel while attending an interview, along with £9.90 in parking charges. There are also restaurant claims.

Mr Hyde used the card for petrol while on holiday in France and a cinema visit. Cumbria police have confirmed both transactions were repaid from Mr Hyde’s personal bank account.

The card was used to pay for car repairs (£374.59) in September 2011.

While at an international conference Mr Hyde claimed £146 at the Ritz Carlton in Manama.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s vital that senior officers are transparent about their expenses claims to ensure accountability.”

Mr Hyde was suspended in September following allegations of serious misconduct of which he was later cleared. It bears no relation to expense claims. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said “some matters may require an investigation”.

An inquiry is now being carried out by South Wales Police.

Cumbria police and Mr Hyde both declined to comment.

First published at 18:18, Friday, 08 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk