Police chiefs’ group spent £1.6m on Westminster flats

Britain's most powerful police organisation was criticised today after it spent £1.6 million on up to 80 flats in central London for officers fighting terrorism.

The Association of Chief Police Officers used the money to lease flats in Westminster last year. It came from an annual £33 million grant provided to Acpo by the Home Office to fund the national counter-terrorism strategy.

Patrick Mercer, a former Tory homeland security spokesman, said: "Every penny allocated to counter-terrorism is precious. It therefore disappoints me taxpayers' money is being used in this way."

One source told the Mail on Sunday the flats were "all over Westminster, like an address book for the well-heeled".

But Acpo insiders said the average cost of renting the properties was about £300 a week. "They are certainly not luxurious," one added.

Met Assistant Commissioner John Yates, in overall charge of the Acpo anti-terror strategy, said the flats were rented after 9/11 for specialists from across Britain: "These staff are key to the work by police in protecting the public from the very serious threat."

He said Acpo had reviewed the policy and the number of flats was being reduced.