Met Police axes riot squad at centre of fraudulent overtime claims allegations
A SPECIALIST riot squad at the centre of an overtime claims investigation has been axed to cut costs, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The Territorial Support Group has been axed
The force said the withdrawal of the Territorial Support Group (TSG) unit based at Paddington Green in Westminster was "not linked" to misconduct investigations into some of its officers.
The TSG is an 800-strong specialist task force which responds to spontaneous events, including terrorist attacks and public disorder, and played a key role in policing the riots which erupted in the capital in 2011.
According to the force's website, TSG officers are selected on merit and must show "professionalism, self motivation and excellent communication skills".
The force's directorate of professional standards has referred four police sergeants for disciplinary hearings for alleged gross misconduct
Disciplinary action is being taken against more than 20 officers over allegations relating to working practices, unauthorised claiming of overtime and bullying.
The force's directorate of professional standards, which launched the probe in September 2014, has referred four police sergeants for disciplinary hearings for alleged gross misconduct.
Met Police to train hundreds of extra armed officers
Five constables were sanctioned for claiming four hours' overtime which they had not worked, the Met said, while a further two constables face misconduct meetings.
Another 13 officers have been "given advice about professional standards" following the probe.
The TSG, pictured during a training exercise, responds to terrorist attacks
Four police sergeants have been referred to disciplinary hearings for alleged gross misconduct
A Met spokesman said: "This is not linked to the decommissioning of the TSG base at Paddington Green.
"The TSG unit formerly based at Paddington Green was decommissioned in January 2016 as part of organisational restructuring to cut costs by reducing the number of buildings the task force operate from and improving efficiency by co-locating the specialist units of the command."
Met Police expects to make cuts of £800m over the next four years
Over the last four years £600m of cuts have been made.
The force expects to have to make cuts of £800m over the next four years following annual cuts to its grant from the Home Office.