Top transport police already picking up huge Yard pensions

Ian Johnston and Andy Trotter are Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable respectively with the British Transport Police following careers with the Metropolitan Police.

But it was revealed today that they are still being paid their pensions from their former jobs as police forces across the country are threatening to strike over wages.

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 and puts him above Sir Ian Blair who gets £234,000 as Commissioner of the Met.

According to the force's 2006-07 accounts, Mr Johnston, 62, is paid around £195,000 by the British Transport Police. His annual pension, from his days at Scotland Yard, is estimated at £70,000 - or two thirds of the salary for an assistant commissioner when he stepped down.

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 disclosure of the officers' wages and pensions details comes as rank-and-file officers could ballot over their right to strike in support of their wage claim.

Retired officers are allowed to return to police work after leaving their jobs but receive reduced pension benefits.

The pair have benefited from a loophole because the BTP, which is responsible for policing the railway network across the country, comes under the control of the Department for Transport and funded by a levy from railway companies - while the regular force is the responsibility of the Home Office.

Mr Johnston said: "I spent 35 years working with Kent and the Metropolitan Police and have earned my pension for that. Now I am working with the BTP and am being paid the rate for doing that job."

It is understood other officers, at lower ranks than Mr Johnston, have also benefited from the arrangement when retiring from various forces across the country and collecting full pensions before joining the BTP.

The Chairman of the British Transport Police Authority ,Sir Alistair Graham, insisted Mr Johnston had his full support. He said: "The BTP is not like other police forces. We are not a Home Office police service. We are paid for by a levy on the railway industry.

"The authority is concerned to get the best possible police officer to act as Chief Constable. We are satisfied he is that person."

Mr Johnston joined the Met in 1965. He was assistant chief constable of Kent between 1989 and 1992 before returning to Scotland Yard. In 1998 he was chosen to make the formal apology on behalf of the Met for its handling of the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

And Mr Trotter, who started at the Met in 1970 and spent 20 years at Kent police, returned to Scotland Yard in 1992 when he was promoted to Superintendent and then quickly rose through he ranks to become Commander-His last post was the head of the department responsible for crime operations, traffic and transport, and public order.

Earlier this month the Met's top antiterror officer Andy Hayman retired following reports he was under investigation for expenses claims and after he was criticised for his role after the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Mr Hayman, also a former assistant commissioner, denied any wrong-doing.