Metropolitan police officers took a bus to attend a call about a sudden death in south London due to a shortage of fleet cars, it has been claimed.
A family were left shocked when detectives arrived at their home in Lewisham by public transport and apparently explained that officers commonly had to catch buses to investigate crime.
"They told us that if they have to go out on an inquiry they have to use the bus now," a relative told the Daily Mail.
"He said they could use their own personal vehicles but the paperwork meant it wasn’t worth it. You have to ask if it is the best way to spend their time, sitting on a bus?"
The relative added detectives told them cuts and maintenance had left local officers with only two pool cars.
Speaking to the Mail, a retired Met officer was quoted as confirming ex-colleagues had often used public transport for non-emergency inquiries.
"One guy was tasked with clearing up those wanted on warrant but when he put it for a squad car he was told he wouldn’t get one," he said.
The claim comes as Scotland Yard admitted it was working to scale back the size of its fleet as part of the force's commitment to cut overall costs by a fifth.
A spokesman said fleet vehicles were not currently being used efficiently, and added: "This is not about denying MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] employees access to vital transport when it is needed but encouraging the most efficient use of available resources at a time when critical savings need to be made."
