Yard 'slow to act' on missing ID badges

Scotland Yard chiefs were accused today of dragging their feet over disciplining officers for failing to wear identity numbers.

Senior officers were told it was "extraordinary" police supervisors were escaping with a "slap on the wrist" when constables were caught without them. The criticism came in a Metropolitan Police Authority panel hearing to discuss the policing of the G20 protests in April.

Lib-Dem member Dee Doocey added: "When someone is bashing you over the head you need to know who is doing the bashing." Commander Bob Broadhurst, the second in command of public order policing, said failure to show numbers was rare but when it happened it was often due to confusion in transferring them to uniforms, and that the offence was "relatively minor".

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said the Met had ordered a tougher supervision of junior officers over identity numbers.