Yard chief faces quiz over £15,000 expenses claim

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, the head of Scotland Yard's Specialist Operations department, is facing questions from auditors over claims relating to drinks, restaurants and trips abroad.

The concerns were raised after a routine audit of spending by members of the Met's senior management board.

Mr Hayman's expenses were said to be significantly more than those of other senior officers and civilian staff.

The Assistant Commissioner's role includes responsibilities for coordinating national policy on counterterrorism and liaising with foreign police forces on the fight against al Qaeda.

He is in overall charge of the security of London, the protection of the royal family, linking with national security agencies including MI5, and briefing the Prime Minister on the terror threat.

Auditors from the Metropolitan Police Authority are understood to be focusing on £15,000 worth of expense claims relating to entertaining colleagues, hotel stays and restaurant bills.

Sources have told the Standard that the claims cover the past three years.

Mr Hayman, 48, a former chief constable of Norfolk, is said to have compiled a detailed response to each question raised by the auditors. One Scotland Yard insider said: "As the head of the anti-terrorism in Britain he is expected to make a lot of trips and there are a lot of meetings with colleagues from forces from across the UK and abroad. In that context this is not a lot of money over that period.

"There is no suggestion that there is anything wrong with this expenditure, the auditors are just saying that it needs to be clarified."

Mr Hayman, who is not accused of breaking the law, will also be questioned about why he was accompanied on some trips by his former staff officer Sergeant Heidi Tubby.

The sergeant is said to have gone on two trips abroad with the Assistant Commissioner. Insiders point out that other staff officers travelled with him more frequently.

Mr Hayman will be also be asked why he claimed for a night's hotel accommodation near Heathrow Airport when he was due to fly to America the following morning. He will be questioned over why he did not use a police flat in central London and employ his car and driver to get him to the airport.

Critics of Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair claim the controversy is a further illustration of his lack of leadership and a weak grip on corporate spending.

The allegations follow separate questions over spending by officers on corporate credit cards. The spending is being investigated by the force's corruption squad.

Mr Hayman was criticised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over his role in the bungled anti-terror operation that saw Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead at Stockwell Tube station after officers mistook him for a suspected suicide bomber in July 2005. He was accused of "misleading" the public and his boss Sir Ian by failing to pass on suspicions that the Brazilian was not a wanted man straight away. The Metropolitan Police Authority confirmed that a report into expenses allegations would be examined by a committee of its members.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm there is a report which is going to be considered by the MPA's professional standards sub-committee. The report concerns expenditure relating to hospitality and will be considered in due course."

Scotland Yard refused to comment, referring the issue to the MPA.

Mr Hayman started his career with Essex Police in 1978 and later worked for the Met as head of the anti-corruption department.

He became chief constable of the Norfolk force in 2002, but returned to London in 2005 to take the job of assistant commissioner in charge of specialist operations, his current role.