THE government has pledged a further £3million to Wiltshire Police to cover the ongoing costs of the Novichok related incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Costs for the force are expected to reach nearly £11million, with the government having reimbursed £6.6million previously.

The most recent announcement brings the total reclaimed to £9.6million, leaving £1.3million outstanding.

Police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson has said that he fully expects all costs associated with the operation to be met centrally by the government.

More than £6.5 million is projected to be spent on mutual aid officers from other forces, £2.5million on overtime for Wiltshire Police officers and staff and more than £650,000 on accommodation and food, primarily for those working on cordons.

Other costs include £327,000 for replacement of police vehicles, and £230,000 on additional equipment required during the operation.

In a letter to Mr Macpherson, Policing Minister Nick Hurd MP, acknowledged the "continuous hard work" of officers, staff and volunteers still involved in the operation, he has previously recognised that the incidents had "placed an unprecedented pressure on Wiltshire Police".

Mr Macpherson said: "I’m thankful to the Policing Minister for his continued support in ensuring that Wiltshire Police is not left in financial difficulty because of the exceptional costs associated with these incidents.

“Wiltshire Police is the third lowest funded force in the country, and receives £20 less per resident to spend on keeping our communities safe than the average force.

“To put it in perspective, the projected cost of these incidents is around 10 per cent of our annual policing budget.

“Wiltshire Police resources were stretched more than ever as a result of these incidents and we continue to have officers on cordons today.

"The money reimbursed to us so far matches our outgoings in regards to the operations so the Force is not operating at a deficit.

"I have been in frequent contact with the Policing Minister, and those conversations remain an absolute priority for me, to ensure that policing in Wiltshire and Swindon is not affected by the financial implications of these high profile and complex major incidents."

“I continue to be so proud of the resilience of those who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the public in Amesbury and Salisbury. This includes Wiltshire Police officers, staff and volunteers, as well as our mutual aid colleagues, security officers and a significant amount of partner agencies - both locally and nationally.

"I would also like to thank the public for their continued support and patience.”