Julian Assange policing costs reach £10 million

In August Mr Assange indicated he would soon leave the embassy but six months later he remains inside.

Information released by Scotland Yard to the LBC radio station under Freedom of Information laws showed the 9 million sum to the end of October included 7.3 million in police pay and 1.7 million in other "indirect" costs.

The sum would have been enough to keep 343 police officers on the beat for a year.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We remain as committed as ever to reaching a diplomatic solution to this situation.

Police outside the embassy in Knightsbridge

We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden.

"As ever, we look to Ecuador to help bring this difficult and costly situation to an end."

Stephen Greenhalgh, the deputy mayor for policing and crime in London, said: "It is an eye-watering amount of money.

"We do need a diplomatic situation, but ultimately it is the taxpayer that foots the bill.

Julian Assange gives a press conference

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Julian Assange policing costs reach £10 million