Police chief on £195k is also being paid a £70k pension

Ian Johnston was appointed chief constable of the British Transport Police following his career with the Met. But it was revealed today that he is still paid his full Met pension - and exactly the same thing is happening with his deputy Andy Trotter.

Mr Johnston left his position as an assistant commissioner with the Met in 2001 and became BTP chief constable in the same year.

He earns an estimated £260,000 a year - which makes him the highest-paid officer in the country above Sir Ian Blair who gets £234,000 as Met commissioner.

According to the force's 2006-7 accounts, Mr Johnston, 62, is paid about £195,000 by the BTP.

His annual Met pension is estimated at £70,000. Last year he claimed expenses of £6,964.40 from his present job.

And Mr Trotter - who was made deputy assistant constable at Scotland Yard in 1998 and then head of DAC territorial operations before leaving to join the BTP as deputy chief constable in 2004 - earns between £135,000 and £140,000. He will receive a similar pension package to Mr Johnston.

The disclosures comes as rank-and-file officers could ballot over their right to strike over wages.

Retired officers are allowed to return to police work after leaving their jobs but receive reduced pension benefits. The pair benefited from a loophole because the BTP, which polices the railway network, comes under the control of the Department for Transport and funded by a levy from rail firms. The regular force is the responsibility of the Home Office.

Mr Johnston said: "Now I'm working with the BTP and am paid the rate for doing that job."

It is understood other officers, at lower ranks, have also benefited from the BTP loophole.

Chairman of the BTP Authority Sir Alistair Graham insisted Mr Johnston had his full support. He said: "The authority is concerned to get the best possible police officer to act as chief constable. We are satisfied he is that person."

Earlier this month the Met's top anti-terror officer Andy Hayman retired following reports he was under investigation for expenses claims. Mr Hayman, also a former assistant commissioner, denied any wrongdoing.