West Ham accused of dodging its policing costs
West Ham has managed to dodge over £43,000 in policing costs for their recent home game against Stoke.
The information was revealed to Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore by Sadiq Khan as part of Mayor’s Questions.
Dismore criticised former mayor Boris Johnson for a deal between West Ham and the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which has allowed the club to avoid paying any money towards its own policing costs.
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The £43,350 was a charge for special policing services for West Ham, but under the deal between West Ham and LLDC during Boris Johnson's time as London mayor, there is no provision for West Ham to shell out for the cost of the policing.
Dismore said: “Taxpayers are going to be really angry to hear that West Ham aren’t even having to contribute to policing costs within their stadium under Boris’ sweetheart deal. With the costs for policing these games creeping up it’s bizarre that the former mayor entered a deal where West Ham don’t even pay their fair share.
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“This botched deal goes from bad to worse, and all because Boris Johnson didn’t take the time to look at the detail.
"Not only did we see the costs of the stadium conversion rocket, taxpayers were then told they’d be paying through the nose for retractable seating. We wait with baited breath to see what else the review will uncover.”
The new controversy comes after Morning Wire revealed how the West Ham owners were free to cash in on the club's deal for the Olympic stadium to the tune of around £31m.