Mayor must stop £2 million perks for senior police officers - Dee Doocey (Newham Borough Liberal Democrats)

Newham Borough Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Mayor must stop £2 million perks for senior police officers - Dee Doocey

October 14, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by London Assembly Liberal Democrats

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson, commenting on the Mayor's response to her question at today's Mayor's Question Time urging him to ensure that chauffeur driven cars are ended for senior police officers said:

"This perk is costing taxpayers nearly £2m a year, which would pay for an extra 30 police officers. The Mayor's response is an absolute disgrace. How dare he suggest that an incoming Conservative Government should 'chop the Ministerial car', yet at the same time do nothing about the provision of chauffeurs and limousines to senior police officers in the Met. His suggestion that the issue should be reviewed is nothing more than a smokescreen to kick it into touch and do nothing."

"Sir Paul Stephenson told the BBC earlier this month that 'there is a growing distance between the Metropolitan Police and the public'. The Mayor is the Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority. He must realise that power comes with responsibility. His actions today are totally irresponsible, and will do nothing to reduce this divide between the police and the public."

"For the vast majority of senior police officers it is time this outrageous and outdated perk came to an end."

Ends

Notes to editors

1. Boris Johnson's article calling for a complete end to Ministerial cars can be seen at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/6116598/David-Camerons-first-task-should-be-to-get-his-ministers-out-of-their-cars.html#

2. At September's Mayor Question Time Boris Johnson stated:

" I was very pleased, by the way, to see the leader of the opposition, yesterday take up the idea which I think I floated that we should get rid of all these ridiculous Government cars that they have. Why not? Absolutely. I think it is unbelievable that all these - not just Ministers but civil servants. Not just civil servants, huge numbers of people on the taxpayers' payroll are ferried around London in cars - " (Mayor's Question Time, 9 September 2009)