MORE than £10million in unpaid parking fines and London congestion charge payments has been racked up by diplomats in the UK, figures revealed today.

Embassy staff protected by diplomatic immunity have also been accused of a string of serious crimes since 2003, including a bribery, indecent assault and robbery.

In a series of statements to Parliament, Foreign Secretary David Miliband also disclosed foreign countries owed more than £400,000 in unpaid rates on their diplomatic missions.

The figures showed the diplomatic mission with the highest level of outstanding fines for non-payment of the congestion charge was the US Embassy. It owed £2,347,205 in fines.

Japan and Russia owed more than £1.3million each, and Germany and Nigeria more than £1million.

The country with the highest fines owed, excluding the congestion charge and relating to parking and minor traffic violation fines, was Sudan at £75,100, then Saudi Arabia £38,730 and Kazakhstan £28,180.

France owed £20,920, Russia £14,160, the USA £3,660 and Germany £3,250.

Crimes

In 2007 there were 20 serious offences alleged to have been committed by diplomats including dangerous driving, robbery, driving under the influence of alcohol and domestic assault.

In the years between 2003 and 2007, diplomats from Saudi Arabia allegedly committed crimes including bribery, indecent assault, indecent assault on a child, domestic violence and driving under the influence of alcohol.

South African diplomats allegedly committed indecent assault, robbery, attempted robbery, domestic violence and driving under the influence of alcohol.

A Nigerian diplomat allegedly arranged sham marriages.

Figures on unpaid rates released by Mr Miliband showed the Algerian embassy owed the most at £67,503 followed by Zimbabwe £66,993, Cameroon £44,124 and Bangladesh £37,056. Other countries owing money included Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi,Ukraine, Tunisia and Tanzania.

S'ok, Toxin will clear off the debt and then pay everyone fifty pence to make him the next mayor of London....... problem solved.

(apologies, that was a little bit political wasn't it)

In the years between 2003 and 2007, diplomats from Saudi Arabia allegedly committed crimes including bribery, indecent assault, indecent assault on a child, domestic violence and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Who'd have thought the Saudi's would behave like this, wife beating, kiddy fiddling piss heads

Interesting that this is the behaviour of those who represent their country. What are the normal ones like ?

Interesting that this is the behaviour of those who represent their country. What are the normal ones like ?

Who's normal? Saving only thee and me.

I'd like to see a similar set of stats for the UK embassies around the world.

Of course there'd be nothing untoward, we're British and we treat all the little fuzzy wuzzies like gentlemen and obey their laws to the letter.

bumped!

i wonder what Thailand's was?,