This Is London : Police investigation into 'liquid bomb plot' cost £20million

Police investigation into 'liquid bomb plot' cost £20million

November 15, 2006

The police investigation into the alleged 'liquid bomb plot' to blow up transatlantic airliners has cost Scotland Yard at least £20 million, it emerged.

'Operation Overt' was launched when police swooped on a gang accused of plotting to launch a series of terrorist 'spectaculars' on flights between Britain and the USA.

The bill for the first two weeks of the probe was at least £7 million.

Yard Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson revealed that the current total was £20 million but admitted that this was likely to rise even higher.

This is because of the costs associated with planning the subsequent court case which is not expected take place for some time.

At least £8.5 million has been paid out in overtime since the raids were launched in August this year in Walthamstow, East London and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Police received information that a gang was planning to mix together chemicals to produce bombs to take on board aircraft.

The raids prompted a huge security clampdown at Britain's airports.

Passengers faced lengthy queues and were barred from taking on board any liquids. This ban has only just been relaxed.

In all, 25 people were arrested over the plot - 11 of who have been charged with conspiracy to murder.

A further four face trial on other matters while ten have been released.

But the enormous cost of the Yard investigation has plunged the force into financial problems.

It must now ask the Home Office for extra funding to cover the costs of terrorist investigations which can cost up to £1 million a week.

Mr Stephenson said that police had little choice but to commit huge resources to the first few weeks of any terrorist investigation.

He said there was a period of 'intensive' investigation to protect the public and recover as much evidence as possible.

Len Duvall, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said the force was under 'unprecedented pressure' in what he described as a 'new normality'.

The Yard is currently in negotiations over its new budget and currently has a budget 'gap' of at least £20 million. Its new budget is likely to rise to £3 billion. Terrorist investigations are notoriously expensive because of the huge amounts of manpower allocated to them and time consuming searches for evidence such as examining computer hard drives and checking mobile phone records.

The Mail revealed that the search for a chemical device in Forest Gate, East London, in June this year cost £2.2 million. The 'bomb' was never found.