New data has found that foreign diplomats owe million in unpaid fines and fees for motoring offences in Britain. According to new figures obtained from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) foreign diplomat owe over £111 million in unpaid motoring fines, with the Congestion Charge accounting for a staggering £109,989,245. To contextualise how much money this is, in the 2017/18 year the total net income of the Congestion Charge was £155.9million. This means there is a huge amount of lost revenue from Transport for London, ho could’ve reinvested the cash in the transport network across the capital.
Diplomats from countries that owe the most and least amount of money through unpaid fines have been unveiled in an interactive map by Hippo Leasing.
Of the diplomats not paying fines, the worst was the American Embassy, according to the figures, which owe almost £12 million.
The bulk of these fees come from the Congestion Charge zone totalling £11,925,920 with just £3,765 in parking fines.
Other bad offenders include Japan, Nigeria, Russia and India who have all accrued debts of over £5 million.
The High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria owes the highest amount in unpaid parking fines, totaling an incredible £272,740.
Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, diplomats are immune from prosecution in their host country.
This means they legally don’t have to pay motoring fines, however, that doesn’t mean diplomats can’t pay them.
Some nations, out of good will, consistently pay off their motoring fines despite benefitting from diplomatic immunity.
According to the FCO data, diplomats of three UK embassies (Central African Republic, New Zealand and Paraguay) owe absolutely nothing, having consistently settled their accrued debts over the years.
Tom Preston, Managing Director of Hippo Leasing commented on the findings: “While some argue diplomatic immunity is an outdated principle and open to exploitation, foreign officials remain under no legal obligation to pay their motoring fines.
“Total debts are only set to increase following the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in April, designed to cut traffic further and help clean up the dangerously polluted air in London. As well as looking at the economic impact of foreign diplomats driving in the Capital, it’s important to consider the environmental and public health costs too.”
The full data, including how much other foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates owe, can be viewed on an interactive map here.
Countries that own the most in unpaid fines
1. United States(American Embassy)
Congestion Charge owed – £11,925,920
Parking Fines owed – £3,765
Total owed – £11,929,685
2. Japan (Embassy of Japan)
Congestion Charge owed – £8,021,190
Parking Fines owed – £2,195
Total owed – £8,023,385
3. Nigeria (High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria)
Congestion Charge owed – £6,724,405
Parking Fines owed – £272,740
Total owed – £6,997,145
4. Russia (Embassy of the Russian Federation)
Congestion Charge owed – £5,653,955
Parking Fines owed – £8,952
Total owed – £5,662,907
5. India (Office of the High Commissioner for India)
Congestion Charge owed – £5,394,580
Parking Fines owed – £5,490
Total owed – £5,400,070
6. China (Embassy of the People’s Republic of China)
Congestion Charge owed – £4,337,295
Parking Fines owed – £6,715
Total owed – £4,344,010
7. Germany (Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany)
Congestion Charge owed – £4,288,680
Parking Fines owed – £5,790
Total owed – £4,294,470
8. Poland (Embassy of the Republic of Poland)
Congestion Charge owed – £4,065,250
Parking Fines owed – £2,655
Total owed – £4,067,905
9. Ghana (High Commission for the Republic of Ghana)
Congestion Charge owed – £3,655,695
Parking Fines owed – £7,180
Total owed – £3,662,875
10. Sudan (Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan)
Congestion Charge owed – £3,160,730
Parking Fines owed – £48,824
Total owed – £3,209,554
Countries that own the least in unpaid fines
1. Central African Republic(Embassy of the Central African Republic)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £0
Total owed – £0
2. New Zealand (New Zealand High Commission)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £0
Total owed – £0
3. Paraguay (Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £0
Total owed – £0
4. Peru (Embassy of Peru)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £40
Total owed – £40
5. Montenegro (Embassy of Montenegro)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £65
Total owed – £65
6. Netherlands (Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £65
Total owed – £65
7. Venezuela (Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £65
Total owed – £65
8. Costa Rica (Embassy of Costa Rica)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £130
Total owed – £130
9. Nepal (Embassy of Nepal)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £130
Total owed – £130
10. Norway (Royal Norwegian Embassy)
Congestion Charge owed – £0
Parking Fines owed – £130
Total owed – £130