Julian Assange

[Mrsspagnoli57]

If, as just reported on the news,the cost to the UK taxpayer so far for Julian Assange's Equadorian adventure is in excess of £7,000,000 (in policing) what change of getting refund from Australia, his country of birth? None I expect as they are Commonwealth like us. Another waste of taxpayers money I guess.

[New Judge]

That's what it's called a "Commonwealth", Mrs spag.

Our wealth which they have in common with us !!!!

[Mrsspagnoli57]

New judge: my thoughts entirely

[joeluke]

If he was man enough he'd face the music for the crimes he's accused of, instead of admitting his guilt by hiding away like a naughty schoolboy.

[Bazile]

7 Million on what ?

Having a PC plod watching the embassy - deploying a battilion of special agents - something is not quite right there .

[jno]

we could stop spending it any time. Someone should perhaps be doing a cost/benefit analysis here.

[Gromit]

Feb 2013 - £3million

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21480648

April 2014 - £6million
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2613102/Julian-Assange-costs-Britain-6m-policing-costs-bill-guard-Ecudorean-embassy-Wikileaks-fugitive-hiding-soars.html

£3million over 14 months works out at £7,1423 a day. A policeman earns about £70 per day, so that works out at 100 offocers a day making sure 1 man doesn't leave.

I am sure there are savings to be made there.

[Peter Pedant]

Struck me as a gravy grain for the metropolitan police

Is this cost extra ? or did it mean that they couldnt do other things but wouild have been employed anyway ? ( ie real cost nil, xc opportunity costs)

[agchristie]

The whole thing is a sham. As I have recently posted on the 'High Time' link there are a number of negative aspects to this matter let alone these costs....

[Gromit]

In 2012 the Daily Mail gave us a breakdown of the bill...


Scotland Yard confirmed it is costing £11,000 every day to ensure the Australian does not flee his bolthole at the Ecuadorean Embassy.

At least four Met officers guard the embassy, on the second floor of a block of flats behind Harrods in Knightsbridge, West London, around the clock
Officers from every London borough, specialist police units and undercover squads have been brought in to join the open-ended stake out.
One colleague said: ‘The officers are being moved around every three or four days to stop the boredom setting in.
‘There are certainly plenty of other things these officers could be doing than standing there around the clock.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211530/Police-stakeout-Assange-tops-1m-costs-11-000-DAY-ensure-doesnt-flee-Ecuadorian-Embassy.html#ixzz3AkrOyNy6 

£11,000 for 4 officers works out at £2,750 per officer each day. Seems rather a lot when a normal PC gets £70 a day.

[sp1814]

If and when he leaves, do you think he'll give Noël Edmonds his face back?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/julian-assange-is-leaving-ecuadorian-embassy-soon-9675417.html?origin=internalSearch

[jno]

"Mr Blobby seen leaving embassy"

[youngmafbog]

Yes Gromit, the figures dont seem to stack up, looks like plod massaging the figures for some reason.

Is it worth it? How much has Yewtree cost per prosecution? This manis accused of sex crimes and his hiding rather seems to point to his guilt (The USA thing is just a smoke screen). Anyone want an accused sex offender walking our streets?