MORE than £1.1 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on translation costs for West Mercia Police since 2011, it has emerged.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request has revealed West Mercia Police spent £1.103 million between 2011 and 2014.

The spending works out at an average of £367,816 per year, with Polish the language most in demand across the force area.

The money was spent on providing interpreters for victims of crime, witnesses and suspects as well as translating documents into foreign languages like leaflets or web pages.

The figure was uncovered by John Campion, who is standing as the Conservative's candidate to be the new West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner in the 2016 election.

Councillor Campion, who is part of the leadership at Worcestershire County Council, suggests the force could reduce the bill by asking members of the local community to translate for free or teaching police staff to speak foreign languages.

In response, the force has pointed out that it has a duty to help vulnerable members of the public and by law must provide translation services for people who can't speak or understand English at police stations.

Any extras such as publicity material, leaflets, documents or website translations are up to each individual force area.

The FOI response was unable to break down how much of the bill went on interpreters in police stations, and how much went on additional translated materials.

Councillor Campion said: "This is fat that definitely needs trimming, with £1.1 million on translation costs an eye-watering amount for West Mercia to spend.

"We need to save money in this area by working more closely with other public partners and minority communities.

"The priority for our financial resource should always be our hardworking frontline police officers and the local communities they serve."

He said he'd seek to work with voluntary and faith groups to see if they can share some of the burden, and develop the language skills of police staff to reduce the need for interpreters.

He also wants the force to look at where it gets its translators from, to see if it can be obtained cheaper.

The force currently uses workers from the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.

Interpreters on the register must meet a certain standard in education, training and practice in public service and are subject to a Code of Professional Conduct.

Assistant Chief Constable Nav Malik said: "With a diverse community within West Mercia’s five counties, we have a duty to provide a vital method of communication to protect vulnerable members of our community from harm and access to our services so they can seek assistance and help.

"If an officer finds that they are unable to communicate effectively with a person whether they be a witness, under arrest or having attended voluntarily then they will call on the services of a translator.

"We continue to work with our partners on establishing good working between the agencies, sharing expertise and resources."

The FOI data was from the start of the 2011/12 financial year to the end of 2013/14, with the police unable to provide the bill for 2014/15.

FROM ENGLISH TO POLISH - SOME POLICE-THEMED PHRASES

You're nicked - Jesteś ponacinane

'Ello, ello - Cześć cześć

You're under arrest - Jesteś aresztowany

Come to the station - Przyjdź do stacji

Run, police - Run, policja

Have-a-go hero - Mieć go bohaterem