Trained mediators have helped cash-strapped West Midlands Police slash the number of staff grievances that progress to expensive employment tribunal proceedings, figures show.

A team of 11 advisers have been working across the force to improve relations between warring members of staff before it progresses to an expensive legal process.

Over 160 cases have been settled by the mediation team since the scheme was introduced in 2009. The average cost of the team solving a dispute is just £700 compared to the £5,000 cost of a tribunal.

In a report to West Midlands Police Authority, Chief Constable Chris Sims, said: “The main benefit of conflict being resolved via workplace mediation is that it in prevents unnecessary escalation of matters, and the resulting entrenchment, which can have a disproportionate impact on the costs and effort involved in managing cases.

“Mediation obviates the need for the bureaucracy of a formal process and can have a more enduring result on the relationships and behaviour of those involved.”

Mr Sims said mediations progress as quickly as those directly involved allow – as soon as a mediator is allocated, they make arrangements with the parties for the first stage one-to-one meetings to occur, and the second stage follows as soon as possible – usually over a matter of a few weeks.

Figures show that the gender of those participating in mediation is generally split fairly evenly between male and female staff.

Last year, more Pcs and their direct line managers participated in mediations, the report said.

The force’s approach to dealing with members of staff who can not get on has led to interest from other forces and health care organisations, who are also looking at the introduction of mediatrors. Last year, it emerged that West Midlands Police forked out £682,882 defending employment tribunals since 2006-07, with almost £203,000 being spent in 2008-09 alone.

Meanwhile neighbouring Staffordshire Police spent £85,708 throughout the five-year period.

By 2015, about 2,700 West Midlands Police officers and staff will have either lost their jobs or been redeployed to areas deemed more critical.

The force needs to save £126 million over the next four years.