SCOTLAND's largest police force was criticised yesterday amid claims one of its part-time doctors is earning £250,000 a year.
Politicians and campaigners reacted with fury to allegations that a Strathclyde Police surgeon was collecting £5,000 a week.
The unnamed Glasgow GP's tasks include declaring suspects medically fit for interview.
Senior officers said the demand for out-of-hours medical assistance had risen in recent years to protect forces against negligence claims.
But critics described the pay-out as outrageous at a time when police face budgetary pressures because of public spending cuts.
A spokesman for the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "If GPs are able to earn more than the Prime Minister in their spare time then the system is seriously flawed."
Scottish Tory public health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said the force was being "held to ransom".
She said: "Against a background of a freeze on police recruitment, the part-time earnings of this surgeon could potentially employ up to an additional 10 police officers. This is an example of the police being held to ransom by police surgeons when an amicable and professional arrangement could be sought with the NHS."
Strathclyde Police yesterday said it was unable to comment on the "personal" salary details of individual doctors.
But the force declined to issue a formal denial of the Glasgow GP's reported annual wage.
Assistant chief constable Ruaraidh Nicolson added a "review of costs" associated with police surgeons was currently underway.
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