Wiltshire’s police commissioner expects his force will have spent £7.5million dealing with the Salisbury chemical attack
The police investigation has involved more than 140 officers
THE cost to local police of dealing with the nerve agent attack in Salisbury is to hit £7.5million, it was claimed yesterday.
Angus Macpherson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said he would be asking the Home Office to cover all costs incurred.
Mr Macpherson said: "The nerve agent attack in Salisbury three months ago has been an unprecedented incident for our force, which has meant significant costs have been incurred because of the scale of the investigation.
"At this stage we are estimating that the total cost of Wiltshire Police's response is expected to be £7.5 million. I want to reassure the public that I am asking the Home Office to cover all our costs.
"The Government has already agreed to an initial special grant funding of £1.6 million covering our costs in the last financial year, and the policing minister Nick Hurd MP has recognised the ongoing costs to Wiltshire Police. I expect the additional costs incurred to be met in this financial year as well."
Mr Macpherson praised Wiltshire Police's officers, staff and volunteers, as well as partner agencies for their work.
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He said local residents and the business community in Salisbury should also be "applauded for their attitude".
Ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and daughter Yulia, 33, miraculously survived being poisoned in March.Swathes of the city were sealed off before a massive decontamination operation began.
The police investigation has involved more than 140 officers.Russia denies responsibility for the attack.