Devon's crime chief has been slammed for spending nearly £8,000 on promotional items – including magnets, sweets and lip balm.
Devon and Cornwall's police commissioner Tony Hogg splashed out £7,617 on the novelty objects over a 16-month period, according to figures released under Freedom of Information laws.
Mr Hogg's office said the outlay was an effective way to advertise the commissioner's work and contact details but critics say the money could have been better spent.
Nigel Rabbitts, of the Police Federation in Devon and Cornwall, said: "Any increase in bureaucratic spending means less money for police officers in the community."
Mr Hogg's office said spending on such items was "carefully-costed".
It said: "We have a responsibility to consult on a wide variety of issues with local people, and we believe that it is therefore appropriate to encourage participation by providing a range of literature about the work we do, and offer some small items that advertise our contact details.
"We are no different to many other public-facing, and funded, organisations in this regard."
