Dyfed-Powys Police to revise expenses policy after credit card abuse

A Welsh police force has vowed to change its internal expense claim policies after its former chief constable was found guilty of misusing his corporate credit card.

Terry Grange, former head of the Dyfed-Powys Police Authority, abused the expenses system by allowing his mistress to accompany him on business trips to London, and buying £130-worth of meals and drinks using a police credit card.

The married father of three also failed to attend meetings as the force's representative because he was spending time with his lover, known as Ms A.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission report said there were "significant failings" in the systems and processes with which Dyfed-Powys governed the use of credit cards.

It said the force should establish revised, robust procedures for claiming expense claims and using corporate credit cards.

A statement on the force's website said: "We accept the report's recommendation to introduce procedures that prevent a single senior officer from instructing junior staff to bypass force IT systems."

However, it added: "The failings in this case were largely those of one man, not the wider organisation. The authority has recovered £130.38 from Mr Grange and there are no further monies outstanding.

"In accepting the recommendations, it should be noted that the force has already strengthened its procedures for the use of credit cards. If there are more lessons to be learned, further measures will be put in place."

Grange resigned from the force.