About $3 million annually has been paid by the Bermuda Government for health insurance premiums covering the Bermuda Police Service in recent years.

The figures were released today by Michael Dunkley, the Premier and Minister of National Security, in response to parliamentary questions from Derrick Burgess, the Shadow Minister for Labour and Seniors.

The amount was $2.89 million for the fiscal year ending in 2012, $2.94 million for 2013, $2.92 million in 2014 and $3.04 million in 2015.

Housing allowances were as follows: for 2011-12, $1.47 million; 2012-13, $1.5 million; 2013-14, $1.56 million and $1.64 million for 2014-15.

“These numbers reflect the benefits to which police officers are entitled under their agreement,” Mr Dunkley said later.

“The public will recall that, in 2013, this Government promised to engage the Bermuda Police Association in a constructive dialogue to review and revise the Conditions of Service Order to better reflect a modern benefits structure and to take account of these economic times. Those discussions are ongoing and, as indicated in the Budget Statement in February, we are hopeful some agreement can be reached during this fiscal year.”

Meanwhile, responding to Walter Roban, the Shadow Minister for National Security, Mr Dunkley gave the numbers of officers on paid sick leave for the fiscal years ending in 2013, 2014 and 2015 as 292, 297 and 326 respectively.

Sick leave paid out for those years stood at $1.54 million, $1.26 million and $1.61 million.

There were four officers on paid sick leave for longer than six months in 2012-13, versus one in 2013-14 and five in 2014-15.

Medical costs paid out by the Government for those years ran at $1.92 million, $1.72 million and $1.61 million respectively.

• For detailed analyses of Police health insurance premiums and sick day records, click on the PDF links under “Related Media”.