Cash-for-honours inquiry cost police almost £1.4m

Published on Tuesday 6 November 2007 00:46

THE abortive cash-for-honours investigation cost police nearly £1.4 million, it was disclosed yesterday.

Scotland Yard incurred the bill during a 19-month investigation which blighted the final stages of Tony Blair's leadership as prime minister, but eventually resulted in no charges. The figure, which was released under freedom of information laws, is higher than had been expected.

The Crown Prosecution Service disclosed last month it had spent 122,000 on advice from independent counsel before deciding to drop the case.

Staff costs made up 1,304,549 of the total 1,396,091 bill.

The Metropolitan Police force refused to provide a breakdown of the remaining 91,542.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who led the inquiry, mounted a staunch defence of its conduct when he gave evidence to MPs last month.

He told the public administration committee that his team found evidence that suggested there might have been "something there".

Mr Yates also indicated some figures embroiled in the cash-for-honours controversy failed to co-operate fully - although he declined to identify them.

The investigation saw more than 130 people interviewed and four people arrested. Mr Blair was among those questioned.