Congestion charge a ‘slap in the face’ for police officers
SADIQ KHAN, the Mayor of London, has been accused of slapping key workers in the face after they were told they would not be granted an exemption from the congestion charge.
The £11.50 daily fee for cars entering central London was suspended during lockdown to allow people in vital jobs to get to work while public transport was restricted. But the charge was reimposed this week and will rise to £15 a day next month, as well as being extended to include the weekend.
NHS and care home staff are entitled to a refund if their employers are based in central London but other key workers, including police officers and firefighters, will not be exempt.
There has also been criticism over the extension of the scheme as it is likely to force many low-paid workers on to the public transport network at a time when people are being warned they must maintain social distancing.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan
Police Federation, said officers should not be “penalised”. He said: “Since the beginning of this pandemic, police officers in London have worked tirelessly to keep the public safe, at no little risk to themselves.
“To be told that they now have to pay the congestion charge when other key workers retain an exemption is a slap in the face to our brave colleagues.
“At a time when we are being discouraged from using public transport to get to work, this seems to go completely against government guidelines.”
A Transport for London spokesman said: “The rationale for the exemption is a recognition of the essential role they are playing, and the fact that they could come into close contact with a large number of people who have coronavirus, and could infect people they come into contact with.”
However, the spokesman confirmed that all other workers, including teachers, police officers, firefighters and transport workers, would have to pay the increased charges in full.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for a full exemption for all key workers.