London police officers’ £107m in train rides
Robert Jonesitish taxpayers have covered London’s police officers rail travel needs for the five years to the tune of £107 million it has recently emerged.
It’s been revealed that free rail travel within 70 miles of the capital is enjoyed by more than 34,000 Metropolitan Police as well as City of London officers.
Even when off duty, London police officers simply show their warrant card to inspectors on board train to get free travel.
After enduring pressure from the UK Government to reassess its rising expenditure, the two police forces have mustered a new agreement with rail authorities.
The move comes after they were required to disburse £24 million, a premium price, which covered for a 12-month extension to the perk of 2008.
The cost initially went through a dramatic increase in 2006 as HM Revenue and Customs recanted on a decision made earlier and announced that free rail travel was subject to taxation.
Officials thus became exposed to a yearly tax bill of £8 million but did manage to reduce this by disbursing an increased amount to the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc).
Free train travel for London officers was first offered on the capital’s uncerground system as well as on its buses at the beginning of the 70s and was eventually added to the city’s overground rail service in 2002.
Senior police officers understand that free rail service for their members helps in reducing crime and also constitutes an element of added value which allows the forces to attract and recruit, as well as retain, officers living outside the British capital.
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) does not wish to discuss contract cost details as they consider this to be commercially sensitive.
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Filed under Business & Finance, Travel News, UK News