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Amex cards of Scotland Yard detectives canceled

A corruption inquiry has forced 1,400 credit cards to be taken from Scotland Yard detectives after investigators identified almost ?2 million (US$4 million) expenses still unaccounted for. The cancellation of almost half of the 3,530 American Express (Amex) credit cards issued to officers comes at the end of a major inquiry.

Three detectives were arrested over claims that they used their cards to spend public money on themselves, their friends and families. Two are serving officers while the third is a 51-year-old former detective sergeant from the specialist crime directorate. All three remain on bail.

Scotland Yard sources say that more arrests over potential 'criminal activity' may follow, while it has also emerged that a separate inquiry has been set up by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into alleged fraudulent claims by officers.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Authority's (MPA) directorate of professional standards has confirmed that its inquiry into potential criminal activity is continuing. So far, ?1.88 million of spending has still to be "unreconciled" (unaccounted) with ?96,000 of the sum currently under investigation.

Initially, auditors had uncovered more than ?3.6 million of credit card spending not properly explained. The six-month review by the MPA examined almost ?7 million spent on Amex credit cards by officers since 2004, and already it has prompted changes to the way the force monitors its expenses.

The MPA has now canceled its contract with American Express in favor of a four-year-deal with Barclaycard. Under the new scheme, most officers will have a spending limit of ?5,000 a year with managers receiving a monthly statement outlining the expenditure incurred by staff issued with the "corporate charge card."

Cardholders who fail to submit a justification for expenses within 30 days will have their card withdrawn and unreconciled transactions deducted from their salary.
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