Diana Met inquiry cost nears £2m

Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed died on 31 August 1997

Scotland Yard's investigation into the death of Princess Diana could reach almost £2m by the time it has finished.

The estimate is calculated from figures made available on the Metropolitan Police website under the Freedom of Information Act.

They show £37,000 was spent on a new IT system and £42,000 on travel and accommodation since January 2004.

The majority of the costs have gone on the 14-strong team's salaries, which already total about £600,000.

Car shipped back

Other costs listed on the website include £38,000 on refurbishing offices needed for the inquiry and a further £43,000 on overtime and expenses.

Not included in the list is the cost of shipping the crashed Mercedes back to London from Paris and the salary of former Met Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, who heads up the investigation.

The total estimated costs of £2m for the entire investigation are being met by Scotland Yard.

The inquiry, codenamed Operation Paget, was launched 18 months ago following the inquests of the Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed.

They died in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997.

French investigators blamed the crash on driver Henri Paul who was found to have been drinking before driving at high speed.