Met Police spends a whopping £100 per lightbulb change

You couldn’t call it a case of daylight robbery – but only because it’s about artificial lights. The Metropolitan Police Service apparently pays £100 a time to a maintenance company […]

You couldn’t call it a case of daylight robbery – but only because it’s about artificial lights.

The Metropolitan Police Service apparently pays £100 a time to a maintenance company for “urgent” light bulb changes.

The London police force’s Director of Procurement Victoria Morgan revealed the amount paid in “non-urgent” cases is £26 each, reported the Sunday Mirror.

London lawyer Jessica Learmond-Criqui got hold of the figures after police officers shared their anger at the costs when force budgets are being cut.

The Met fended off the accusations by stating items such as light bulbs and sink plugs “generally do not cost the amounts noted”.

A spokesperson said individual circumstances could affect price, with “actual costs” for items such as changing light bulbs “heavily influenced by location, access arrangements and urgency to replace”, while health and safety and security could also affect cost.

They added: “Along with most large organisations, the MPS have several contracts in place with various suppliers for procurement consumables within our estate.”

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