Dorset Police chief Martin Baker given bonus

The chief constable of Dorset Police has received a £12,839 bonus despite the force's plan to cut more than 500 jobs.

Martin Baker was paid the bonus on top of his £141,000 salary.

The force said the combined package of salary and bonus meant their chief constable was the second lowest-paid in the country.

The authority has said it needs to cut its £140m budget by £18m and shed 530 posts over the next four years.

A recruitment freeze has been in place since May 2010 and the force has said it hoped this would reduce the number of job losses.

Martin Goscomb, chief executive of the Dorset Police Authority, said: "The rationale for the chief officer bonus is to motivate chief officers to strive for and achieve exceptional performance both individually and collectively."

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Based on finance information published in 2010/11, four forces pay more in bonus, while seven pay more in 'other' additional payments and allowances.

"Dorset Police's total cost of employment for a chief constable is the second lowest of all forces in England and Wales."