Julian Assange.

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

That's 10,500 pounds ($NZ21,725) 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 pounds.

A frustrated British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday 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.

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

London deputy mayor for policing and crime Stephen Greenhalgh acknowledges the STG10 million figure is "an eye-watering amount of money".

Read this article:
Assange guard bill tops $20 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

Original post:
Julian Assange policing costs reach £10 million

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Source: AAP

The cost of policing the embassy in London where Julian Assange has been holed up since mid-2012 has now topped $A20 million.

A London radio station has crunched the numbers after a freedom of information request revealed the Metropolitan Police had spent $A18 million guarding the Ecuadorean diplomatic mission to the end of October 2014.

That's $A21,000 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 $20 million.

A frustrated British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Thursday 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.

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

Read the original:
Police pay $20m to guard Julian Assange

Getty Images

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.

Go here to read the rest:
Julian Assange security bill at more than $20 million

PA/GETTY

It is now believed the cost of policing the Embassy has now soared past 10million, it emerged today.

Metropolitan Police officers have been standing outside the building in Knightsbridge, west London, since Mr Assange took shelter there in June 2012.

Police are forced to patrol the outside of the Embassy in case he steps foot on British soil, in which case he would be arrested.

Scotland Yard spent 9million on policing the building to the end of October, according to figures released in a Freedom of Information request from LBC Radio.

Mr Assange has been holed up in the Embassy for a further 96 days since these figures were released - meaning that the actual total amount spent by the force today has passed the 10million mark, or roughly 10,500 a day.

Mr Assange, 43, is seeking to avoid extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over claims he assaulted two women in Stockholm - which he denies.

Nearly six months ago he said he would be leaving the Embassy soon as his health was deteriorating, but he has yet to leave and has now been there for 959 days.

PA

A Foreign Office spokesman said today: "We remain as committed as ever to reaching a diplomatic solution to this situation. We are clear that our laws must be followed and Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden.

Continued here:
Fury as cost of policing Julian Assange's Ecuador Embassy hideaway soars past £10MILLION

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gives a statement at a press conference inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London 18 August 2014.

Image: EPA John Stillwell

By Blathnaid HealyUK2015-02-05 19:29:25 UTC

LONDON Monitoring the Ecuadorian embassy in London where Julian Assange is staying has been a costly exercise for the British taxpayer.

To date, 10 million ($15 million) has been spent to ensure the WikiLeaks founder doesn't put a foot on British soil.

In a request filed under the Freedom of Information Act, LBC Radio found that it costs 10,500 ($16,000) to guard the embassy around the clock each day.

So far, Assange has spent 959 days in the embassy after Ecuador granted him political asylum in 2012, preventing the WikiLeaks founder from being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sexual misconduct.

During that time, Assange has been waiting for a diplomatic solution to the standoff. In July, a court in Sweden upheld an arrest warrant against him, leaving Assange in legal limbo with no solution in sight.

In August, Assange said he would leave the embassy "soon," but didn't specify when or what terms might be involved.

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Britain has spent £10 million on policing Julian Assange