A Freedom of Information request has revealed that police constables have shared more than £20,000 in bonus payments over 12 months.

The bonus payments, which are tax deductible, are paid for some of the more unpleasant sides of officers’ work.

An FoI release showed that between December 21, 2018 and November 20, 2019, constables received a total of £20,880 in bonuses.

In the same period, sergeants were paid £550 and inspectors £300.

A police officer can claim £100 for conducting a search of an unpleasant property and £50 for sifting through faeces.

Other payments available include £250 for finger printing a decomposing corpse and £50 for internally held drug package retrieval.

Payments of £250 and £500 are available for those who either take on extra training or mentor those carrying out the training.

Applications for bonus payments are available throughout the year but are considered under at a quarterly meeting of the awards panel, with the exception of sifting payments which are considered separately.

Meanwhile, over the same period, firearms officers were authorised payments totalling £40,583.

However, it is not explained what these payments are for or if they differ from the payments available to non-firearm officers.

That figure was split between sergeants and constables.

The former received payments totalling 6,750 and constables shared £33,833 between them.