Diplomatic C-charge bill tops £4.5m
Updated on 22 June 2007
United States leads the way with £1.5m in outsanding congestion charge payments, Channel 4 News online has learned.
Wealthy foreign diplomats are dodging millions of pounds in bills for unpaid parking fines and congestion charges.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett says embassies now owe millions for unpaid congestion charges - while only one in nine parking fines is being settled.
Despite pleas from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the bills to be paid the vast majority remain outstanding - with many diplomats believing their status means they don't have to cough up.
The United States' unpaid congestion charge bill hit £1.5m in the past year; with Nigeria second on £700,000, and Sudan third on £545,000.
Meanwhile a total of 5,484 tickets were issued to diplomats for dodgy parking and minor traffic offences - with 4,859 remaining unpaid. Saudi Arabia is the worst offender, with £30,000 in fines still outstanding.
Earlier this year the FCO wrote to all the embassies urging them to cough up.
A spokeswoman for the FCO said: "Where necessary, we will draw the attention of Heads of Mission to particular persistent offenders, warning of possible further action.
Congestion charge worst offenders
| Mission | Number of fines | Value £ |
| USA | 15,150 | 1,484,765 |
| Nigeria | 6,949 | 682,370 |
| Sudan | 5,633 | 545,990 |
| Japan | 4,119 | 386,150 |
| Tanzania | 3,119 | 298,940 |
| Kenya | 3,099 | 292,830 |
| South Africa | 2,773 | 267,290 |
| Sierra Leone | 2,619 | 252,310 |
| Germany | 2,515 | 223,950 |
| Zimbabwe | 1,641 | 157,430 |
5,484 tickets were issued to diplomats for dodgy parking and minor traffic offences - 4,859 remaining unpaid.
"The majority of missions pay the congestion charge on time and do not incur fines. We also wrote to all missions owing over £1,000 in fines urging them to settle their debts with Transport for London."
The US embassy - along with many others - has refused to pay the congestion fee on the grounds that it is tax; and therefore diplomats are exempt from paying it.
It has led to stinging criticism from London mayor Ken Livingstone, who branded US ambassador Robert Tuttle a "venal little crook" for his refusal to pay.
Actor Tom Conti, founder of campaign group London Motorists Action Group (LMAG), said: "I think the American ambassador's stance on this is very reasoned, I think he makes his case very well.
"Obviously, when you have got a parking ticket then you've done something wrong - so you should pay up. But in terms of the congestion charge I can see how some of these diplomats feel."
A spokesman for the US Embassy said: "The embassy has already said what it has to say on this matter and has nothing to add."
