Met's failure to abolish the 'disgraceful perk' of chauffeur driven cars for senior police officers is shameful - Dee Doocey

12.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jun 2010

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson and member of the MPA, commenting on today's defence by the Met Commissioner of the continued provision of chauffeur driven cars for senior police officers said:

"At a time of austerity and when really tough decisions are set to be made across public services it is unbelievable that the Met are still planning to provide chauffeur driven cars for senior police officers. The failure to abolish this disgraceful perk is shameful."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. At today's MPA meeting Sir Paul Stephenson confirmed that senior Met police will continue to have chauffeur driven cars, which drive officers to work and home and to attend meetings. The only change that the Met has agreed to make is to start to pool some drivers.

2. Removing all chauffeur driven cars from all senior Met officers (of ACPO rank), with the exception of cars required for security and operational purposes would save an estimated £2 million a year.