Suspended public sector workers ‘cost taxpayer £46m’ over last three years

Reasons for suspension included allegations of sexual assaults, cultivating drugs, sleeping on duty, being intoxicated in work, inappropriate relationships, and tormenting patients

The figures include a total of 5,156 staff suspended on full pay (Getty)

Public sector workers suspended on allegations of misconduct have cost the taxpayer at least £46m in the last three years, according to newly-released figures.

The cost of the suspensions, which include allegations of sexual assaults, cultivating drugs, sleeping on duty, being intoxicated in work, inappropriate relationships, and tormenting patients, were provided to ITV through freedom of information laws.

The figures come from police forces, local council and NHS trusts in England and Wales and includes a total of 5,156 staff suspended on full pay. The broadcaster adds that in some cases workers were suspended for more than a year while they awaited disciplinary procedures.

Dia Chakravarty, from the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said it cost was a “phenomenal” waste of money.

But Stewart Gee, a workplace dispute expert, added: “If an employer decides to suspend you without pay, there can be a number of consequences. One of which is that they might find they’ve breached the employee’s contact. So first of all they need to have it down in the contract for it to be a fair thing to do. But, the second thing is that they mind find that if it goes to an employment tribunal as a dismissal, the dismissal’s found to be unfair and that carries its own cost if the person receives compensation”.

According to ITV, which will air the research on Thursday evening, of 239 NHS England trusts, 113 responded and indicated they have suspended 3,477 staff over the last three years – a total of £28,497,343.

John Hayes, an employment lawyer, added that public sector workers often have internal disciplinary procedures which take longer to reach a conclusion. He added: “People need to understand that once someone is suspended, they will be suspended on full pay, they have a contractual right to be suspended on full pay. That’s not the issue. The issue is the length of time it takes for public sector employers to conclude their internal disciplinary procedures”.