by BEN CLERKIN

Last updated at 09:43 14 November 2007

It sounds like the start of a joke - how many police officers can you fit into a Volkswagen?

The answer, apparently, is 14 ... but it'll be a squeeze.

This extraordinary sight is the result of Metropolitan officers' desire to get as quickly as possible to the scene of Monday's warehouse fire at the Olympic site in London.

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The Volkswagen van is designed to carry eight passengers, but onlookers were amazed to see it driving through Tower Hamlets with an extra six bodies on board.

There certainly weren't enough seatbelts to go round, as at least one officer could be seen pressed uncomfortably against the back window.

And after their traffic department colleagues see these photographs, those PCs who found it was standing room only could be given a £500 fine for not belting up.

The driver could also be fined up to £5,000 for allowing the minibus to be overloaded.

Carrying too many passengers is dangerous because it can make the vehicle less stable. It would also be harder to steer and take longer to stop.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the policemen involved would be reprimanded.

'Officers from Tower Hamlets were asked to assist colleagues at the Olympic site during the recent fire,' he said. 'During the early stages of the incident it was necessary to ensure the response was quick.

'The officers concerned will be spoken to regarding the incident.'

Firemen believe the blaze in Stratford could have been started by welders demolishing a building.