Diplomatic parking fines: the worst offenders

While they may be the bane of every driver who is stuck for a space in a busy city centre, most of us accept that when we’ve parked on those dreaded double yellow lines, we’ll inevitably have to pay a fine later.

But that’s not the case for the various diplomats who inhabit the city of London. With the power of diplomatic immunity, the staff of embassies and consulates based in the capital are able to park where they like – and are not legally obliged to pay their fines. The result, as you can imagine, is some fairly huge debts racked up against the missions of London.

In an effort to shame them, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just released how much the the various embassies owe from last year. Top of the list this time is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who owe a massive £39,225. (But even their debts are still dwarfed by the £11,925,920 the United States of America owes in unpaid congestion charge fines.)

In the spirit of trying to clear the clogged streets of London from the scourge of diplomatic parkers, Mr S presents the worst offenders here:

Diplomatic Mission/International Organisation 2017, Amount of Outstanding Fines (excluding congestion charge):

High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria
£39,225

High Commission for the Republic of Zambia
£20,450

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
£18,535

Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
£12,920

Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
£11,145

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
£10,885