Scotland Yard antiques squad looking for sponsors

London UK - THE London police art and antique squad is looking for sponsors to make up a £170,000 shortfall in its £350,000 annual funding. The squad's budget was halved due to an overall £7.9m cut in the £350m annual budget of the Metropolitan Police. The Met said that art and antiques was seen as an area where they could get in private money. They work closely with auctioneers, insurers and museums. Last year the squad appealed for help from dealers to provide unpaid part time community police officers to go round antique fairs looking for stolen goods.