10/02/2015

Assange Met Operation To Be Reviewed

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has called for a review of the cost of maintaining a police presence at the Ecuadorian Embassy, for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

The Met has maintained a presence outside the embassy since Mr Assange was granted political asylum in June 2012.

LBC radio claims this has cost the Met £10m to date, a figure later confirmed by the police force.

Mr Assange is wanted in Sweden on charges of sexual assault, but claims the charges are politically motivated. Ecuador granted Mr Assange asylum, but the Government said that it would give him safe passage out of the country. An ongoing operation as been in place at the embassy since.

Sir Hogan-Howe described the cost of the operation as "sucking our resources" and said the force reviewing its current operation.

(MH/CD)

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