PAYMENTS to police officers working overtime soared by 42 per cent in Gwent as the force spent extra resources covering high-profile events including the Nato Summit, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The overtime payment budget in Gwent increased from £1.9m in 13/14 to £2.7m this year, the probe showed.

Gwent Police Insp Mike Richards said before the summit, held at Celtic Manor, the event would be the biggest security event the UK police had ever seen.

Meanwhile the single highest overtime payment in Wales was made to a Gwent Police safety camera unit supervisor, who earned £23,024, according to the BBC probe.

Gwent Police stressed yesterday [Wednesday] their employee worked in the GoSafe Partnership and that any overtime costs incurred were met by the partnership, not the force.

Overtime payments increased by 40 per cent across Wales as whole, from £12m in 13/14 to £16.9m this year, according to the investigation.

Gwent Police payments fluctuated from £2m in 10/11 to £1.7m in 11/12, £1.8m in 12/13, £1.9m last year and £2.7m in 14/15 the Freedom of Information request showed.

The Argus reported how hundreds of people took to the streets during a Nato protest march from Newport Cenotaph in Clarence Place to the Manor, shutting down roads, public transport and shops.

Preparations were also made for considerable congestion on the M4, which was anticipated with world leaders including President Obama, Chancellor Merkel and David Cameron converged on the Newport resort for the summit.

Gwent Police said the Home Office had by and large footed the overtime bill.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said yesterday: “Due to the very nature of policing, officers and staff working overtime is often a critical and essential ingredient to protecting and reassuring communities.

"Gwent Police operates a carefully managed overtime policy which ensures efficient and effective deployment of resources as and when they are most needed.

“Overtime working must meet specific criteria which demonstrates necessity and value for money.

"This is subject to scrutiny as part of the performance management structure of the force. In some operational circumstances this is the most cost effective and flexible use of resources.”

South Wales Police reported the biggest increase for overtime spending in the last year – 61 per cent – from £5.2m in 2013/14 to £8.4m in 2014/15, according to the requests.