Scratchcards 'to boost Met finances'

The Metropolitan Police force is considering selling its own lottery scratchcards to officers to help balance its budget.

Since 11 September the cost of policing London has risen to £1m a week which has put a large dent in the Met's finances.

The force has been looking at different ways to make savings of £17m, including registering products such as the Metropolitan Police logo.

Scotland Yard has submitted the idea to the Metropolitan Police Authority's finance committee for consideration.

You can see it in two ways - it is either very imaginative or a bit desperate

Glen Smyth, Metropolitan Police Federation

It is estimated that £60,000 could be raised by a pilot scratchcard scheme at three stations in the first year.

But Glen Smyth, of the Metropolitan Police Federation, is concerned it will mean less money goes to police social clubs which raise cash for sick and injured officers.

He said: "What it actually indicates to most people is the perilous state of the Met's finances.

"You can see it in two ways - it is either very imaginative or a bit desperate."

The Home Office said the matter is up to individual police forces and the government is not involved.