Julian Assange security bill at more than $20 million

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SECURITY DETAIL: Metropolitan Police officers stand guard outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where fugitive Julian Assange is holed up. The security has reportedly cost NZ$20million.

The cost of policing the embassy in London where Julian Assange has been holed up since mid-2012 has now topped 10 million ($NZ20.7 million).

A London radio station has crunched the numbers after a freedom of information request revealed the Metropolitan Police had spent 9 million ($NZ18.6 million) guarding the diplomatic mission to the end of October 2014.

That's 10,500 ($NZ21,750) per day and, given Assange has been inside the embassy for 960 days since June 19, 2012, the total figure to date is now just over 10 million.

A frustrated British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday (Friday NZT) insisted the Australian should leave the embassy and "face justice".

The WikiLeaks founder is avoiding extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

Assange fears if he's extradited he could subsequently be sent to the United States and charged over the website's release of classified documents.

Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office says the government remains committed to reaching a "diplomatic solution".

"We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden," a spokeswoman said in a statement on Thursday.

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Julian Assange security bill at more than $20 million