Speaking clock calls cost Metropolitan Police £35,000 in two years

London's police force have spent £35,000 ($54,000) on calls to the speaking clock in the past two years.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the Metropolitan Police phoned the service on approximately 110,000 occasions, costing 31p (47 cents) per call.

A police spokesperson explained to PA that officers and support staff sometimes need to call the speaking clock in order to get the exact time for "evidential and operational reasons" where they had no direct internet access.

"We are committed to reducing such costs wherever possible and all directory enquiries from landline telephones are routed to one service with no option to be put through directly," the spokesperson added.

During the financial year 2009/10, the Metropolitan Police spent £18,402 ($28,385) on around 60,000 calls. The figures for 2010/11 were slightly lower, with £16,879 ($26,036) spent on just under 55,000 calls.

It was also revealed that the force spent £95,313 ($147,019) on calls to directory enquiries services during the 2010/11 financial year.

Matthew Sinclair of the Taxpayers' Alliance said the figures were "incredible" as the force faced pressure on its budget following the government's recent spending review.

"The Met needs to show proper care when spending taxpayers' money, and not waste valuable time dawdling on the phone waiting for the third pip from the talking clock," he added.

The speaking clock was first made available in the UK on July 24, 1936 and the service is currently voiced by Sara Mendes da Costa.

Celebrities including Lenny Henry, Chris Moyles and Cheryl Cole have previously voiced the speaking clock on a temporary basis in support of charity Comic Relief.

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