100 MORE POLICE CHIEFS EARN £75K

This story involved looking through the Metropolitan police's finances to see how they had been spending their cash after Cressida Dick claimed they didn't have enough money for more beat bobbies. Once I had the basic data I worked out how many PCs the money spent on top cops and civilian staff would fund.

AN extra 113 senior Scotland Yard cops saw their salaries soar above £75,000 despite a lack of bobbies to fight knife crime.

The number earning between that sum and £90,000 last year rose 35 per cent from 326 to 439.

The additional Met Police big earners, including superintendents and chief superintendents, cost up to £9,670,000 a year — which could pay for at least 246 constables.

Boss Cressida Dick claims Government cuts have left the force hamstrung and more PCs are needed to tackle the capital's stabbings epidemic.

But TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive John O'Connell said: "More money isn't going to make a difference if spending priorities are completely warped. Resources should be focused on frontline services, not first-class flights and pay-rises for top bureaucrats."

Deputy Commissioner Sir Craig Mackey got a pay rise despite an outcry after he locked himself in his car when heroic PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death as he tackled Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood. Sir Sir Craig, retiring next month, had his salary bumped up to £251,228 including benefits.

And last year the force spent £194,839 on firstclass flights, £122,264 more than in 2016.

The Met said yesterday: "Higher class of travel can be authorised where there is a necessary and operational requirement."