Huge costs for the London police: $13,8 million to keep Assange from escaping

The London police spent 13,8 million dollars on duty in front of the embassy of Ecuador, where since June 2012 the founder of the website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has been hiding.

As the British newspaper "Daily Mail" writes, the police spend 11.000 pounds every day for three police officers who monitor the embassy day and night, which was confirmed by the spokesman of the London police.

One associate of Scotland Yard is on the steps of the building at all times, while two other guards make sure that Assange does not leave the embassy disguised as a police officer.

"The police costs of guarding one man at the embassy are reaching absurd proportions," warned Baroness Jenny Jones, deputy chair of the London House of Commons Police Committee, in a statement to the British newspaper.

The government needs to explain to taxpayers why they have to pay for it, she stated and added that it is high time that "this impasse ends and the policemen withdraw".

Assange requested asylum in Ecuador in June 2012, after a grueling battle in British courts to avoid extradition to Sweden.

The extradition of Assange is also sought by the USA, which believes that the publication of secrets about American politics and diplomacy has harmed American national security, which is why Assange fears that Sweden could hand him over to the USA.