A BBC report has revealed that Police forces in England and Wales have paid out a staggering £660,952 in the last year for music licences so that staff can play music in their offices.

The figures came to light as part of a Freedom of Information request and showed that the forces paid out to the Performing Right Society who collect royalty fees on behalf of artists.

A spokesperson representing PRS said: "Like any business or organisation using music the police need to obtain a licence too. If music is played in police offices, warehouses, training buildings or anything like that a licence would be required. The money collected from this and from 350,000 businesses around the UK ensures the songwriters, composers and publishers of the music receive the royalties they’re entitled to by law."

Not everyone who is associated with the Police was happy to hear about the figures. Chief Constable Nick Gargan who is the head of the finance department of the Association of Chief Police Officers said that he would rather the money be spent on "fighting crime and keeping people safe" and that the policy of his force, Avon and Somerset Police is that they simply don’t play music.