ONE-OFF elections for controversial new police commissioners will cost taxpayers in Devon and Cornwall nearly £2 million — the equivalent of 50 police constables — and £350,000 more than the annual budget of the scrapped police authority.

In July, Home Secretary Theresa May announced the first election of new "police and crime commissioners" would take place in May 2012.

The Government believes the commissioners would "transfer power back to the people", better represent communities and understand "crime and antisocial behaviour priorities".

The move has attracted widespread criticism from Opposition MPs and at the grass roots where police authority members fear the powerful posts could be won by extremist candidates in the event of a low turnout.

No costs for transforming the structure of police governance — at a time when forces may face a 25 per cent cut in budgets — have been published.

However, Mike Bull, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority, said estimates from the 12 local authorities in the region put the election bill alone at £1.9 million.

"No other elections are being held in 2012, other than the one-third elections of councillors in Plymouth and Exeter, so virtually the totality of cost would fall upon the policing budget," Mr Bull said.

"What electorate turnout is to be expected when that will be the only local election happening? Experience tell us the turnout will be very low and that tends to play into the hands of the single-issue or extreme candidates.

"The estimated cost of running these first elections for the Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall total a staggering £1,936,000. This exceeds the totality of the present Police Authority budget by £350,000.

"And that makes no provision at all for any costs of the new Commissioner — no salary for him or her, no offices, no cost of the new police and crime panel, no staff — nothing."

Mr Bull, an elections returning officer in his former job as chief executive of Mid Devon District Council, said the election costs would pay for dozens of officers. The force is facing having to cut 180 officers from 3,500, between 2011 and 2013.

"These total costs are already shocking, truly shocking in terms of their impact on taxpayers," Mr Bull said.

No figures on the cost of commissioners were yesterday available from the Home Office.

A spokesman said: "Accountability can not disappear. There needs to be a mechanism to hold the police to account. This Government is clear that democratic accountability is both the fairest and most cost-effective method of achieving this."