The Virgin Cops: Scotland Yard accused of hiring out officers as it emerges Branson paid fraud squad's overtime

Scotland Yard was accused of hiring out officers for cash yesterday after Richard Branson’s business empire paid for police investigating a massive fraud.

The cable television company Virgin Media agreed to fund the Metropolitan force’s overtime bill in an investigation into a set-box racket costing £144million a year. 

The firm paid police £5,060 following raids which revealed how thousands of viewers were using the boxes to view subscription channels without paying.

Virgin Media also agreed to give the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) a quarter of any compensation awarded following a successful prosecution.     More Read