§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate direct and indirect costs to the Metropolitan police of the costs and investigation in relation to Gurpal Virdi. [142498]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI have been informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the recorded costs incurred by their Directorate of Legal Services, together with the award of compensation on the first Employment Tribunal claim by Mr. Virdi, is estimated at £401,688 (£250,000 legal costs and £151,688 compensation award).
As well as these legal costs, there are the costs incurred in the investigation itself and the discipline hearing, which included witness attendance. To quantify these costs could be done only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted, however, that the majority of these costs are "opportunity costs" (that is work carried out in the normal course of an officer's duties) and not additionally incurred.