Met Police Mugs and Teddies

14 November 2013, 11:24 | Updated: 14 November 2013, 11:49

Scotland Yard plans to use profits from an online shop selling cuddly toys, mugs and notebooks to support policing activity.

Companies will be invited to bid to run the web store next year, selling a range of branded merchandise to members of the public and Metropolitan Police Service staff.

The plans emerged as the Met said it could privatise services worth up to £500 million, including work linked to court cases and healthcare in custody, as the force battles to maintain officer numbers in response to a 20% cut to its budget.

The Metropolitan Police is already selling 200 buildings, including landmark New Scotland Yard as it faces making cuts of £500 million to its £3.6 billion annual budget.