HAMPSHIRE'S elected police chief has defended his office's use of expenses after he was referred to the complaints watchdog for allegedly overspending public money.

Police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes has been accused of wasting around £100 after billing the taxpayer for vehicle tickets to the Isle of Wight as well as as parking at Southampton ferry port.

The money is listed under additional expenses, paid for by Mr Hayes' office and not reimbursed to him personally.

The complaints refer to five claims made in 2013. They also allege the commissioners' office paid for the same ferry twice and charged the public purse for a vehicle ticket without claiming for petrol, suggesting Mr Hayes didn't need his car.

Mr Hayes, who earns £85,000 per year, said: “My travel arrangements are organised and paid for by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, so I have no reason to claim money back for travelling to the Isle of Wight, or anywhere else for that matter. The only personal claims I make are for mileage related to journeys in my car. Occasionally I'll claim for parking, but not always. I don't claim for food or other entitlements because I feel it's not the right thing to do.

“Visits to the Isle of Wight are either by Red Jet, when I leave my car in Southampton or when I need to travel extensively around the Island I'll take my own vehicle and use the car ferry. This is the most cost effective way."

Mr Hayes' expenses sheet for 2013/14 shows his office paid for five other ferry journeys and eight train trips not subject to complaints.

The complaint will be handled by Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, established to hold commissioners to account.

Mr Hayes added: “I don't know the origins of this complaint, as the complainant in the matter hadn't contacted me before informing the media, so we will have to spend some time looking back at the exact meetings and travel arrangements being referred to.

“The system put in place by parliament to deal with complaints against PCC's is the same whatever the nature of the complaint, so due process has to take its course. The process is, and of itself, costly and often spends more tax payers money than the alleged offence in the first place. I'd be happy to speak about this case once due process has been followed”.

Mr Hayes' office spent £949 on his travel expenses in 2013/14, covering trains to London as well as ferries.