THERE'S no such thing as a free lunch - even for the Chief Constable of Sussex.

Paul Whitehouse has in future agreed to pay for meals after being taken to task by one of his own constables.

Det Con Jane Ede spotted the chief tucking into a free buffet while on a visit to Horsham police station.

She was incensed because the Chief recently axed meal allowances for staff attending non-residential courses.

The Crawley-based detective said: "What is good for the goose should be good the gander - if we have to pay, so should he.

"I was surprised when I saw the Chief being provided with a buffet lunch, supplied by an outside catering company, which will have cost a considerable amount.

"A lot of officers are upset at the meal allowance being terminated but it would go some way to softening the blow to see senior officers also losing privileges."

Det Con Ede is about to attend a non-residential course at Lewes headquarters and would have been provided with meals and teas before the allowance was axed.

She said: "I'll probably be taking sandwiches now."

Mr Whitehouse told the Argus: "If it causes concern, then I will be paying for the food in future."

Sussex officers last year came under fire for accepting free burgers and chips from some McDonald's restaurants in the county.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Jordan, currently suspended, said he was livid and anyone caught accepting freebies would be disciplined.

He said: "I totally deplore this practice - there is no such thing as a free lunch."

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