Foreign diplomats in London owe more than £65 million in unpaid congestion charges a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
More than 142 different diplomatic missions ove congestion charges.
The London Evening Standard reveal:
Overseas diplomats in London owe more than £65 million in unpaid congestion charges racked up since the scheme was introduced in 2003, new figures show.
American diplomats are the worst offenders, owing a total of more than £7 million, followed by Russia on £4.8 million and the Japanese embassy with £4.7 million.
Perhaps surprisingly, Germany is one of the biggest offenders, failing to pay £3.7 million. Four African countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, and Kenya — are also in the top 10. Officials for these nations, most vociferously the US, have long maintained that diplomatic immunity exempts them from having to pay the congestion charge to Transport for London.