A MEMBER of the Kent Police Authority is angry over the money spent by Kent Police on its failed legal battle with the BBC over an undercover programme about a care home.

Bill Hayton, who is also a KCC councillor, admitted that the costs - estimated by some to be £700,000 - would have been better spent on putting more bobbies on the beat.

Cllr Hayton (Con) said: “I am not very happy about the £700,000. I am not happy about even one pound of public money being spent unwisely, especially where it could be putting a lot of policemen on the beat."

However, he insisted that Kent Police was right to investigate the programme’s claims into the Brompton Care Home in Gillingham , and pointed out that no-one had subsequently been charged with any offences as a result of the revelations.

Meanwhile, Brian Wood, the vice chairman of the police authority, says Kent Police must take steps to ensure mistakes are not repeated. He also said any disciplinary action would be a matter for the chief constable, Sir David Philips.

Mr Wood, also a KCC councillor, said: “I would want to see members of Kent Police given appropriate training. Certainly the force needs to learn from this experience.”

He said he was “disappointed” at the outcome but said the force had been right to make a thorough investigation into the claims.

It is understood that members of the police authority last week received a confidential report on the decision by Kent Police to issue an unreserved apology for remarks it made about an investigation conducted by the BBC reporter Donal MacIntyre. They were asked to approve the proposed apology and agree to an out of court settlement with the BBC.

A report outlining the final costs to Kent Police, along with any action taken since the settlement, is expected to be presented to the police authority in December.