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A police van was snapped on double-yellow lines in central London as officers stopped off to buy ice creams.

The officers, whose uniforms identify them as an inspector and sergeant in the Met’s crack Territorial Support Group, pulled up outside Amorino Gelato Italiano in Soho.

One was photographed by the Standard emerging from the upmarket parlour bearing a £3.50 cone and a broad smile.

Onlookers told how the vehicle waited on the double-yellows in Old Compton Street for around five minutes before the pair hopped back in and drove off towards Charing Cross Road at 7.20pm.

While police are allowed to parked in restricted areas for legitimate operational reasons, a Met spokesman said today the “entitlement should not be abused”.

It happened minutes after the whistle blew on Italy’s World Cup exit last night and it is thought the officers had been patrolling the area, busy with heartbroken Blues fans, to keep an eye out for any trouble.

Motorists caught carrying out the same manoeuvre would face a fine upwards of £65.

Peter Smith, 66, a local taxi driver, said: “It’s one rule for them and another for everyone else. We are hardly even allowed to pull up to let people out, and if I got out of the car I’d get a ticket.

“At the end of the day they’re blocking the road and this sort of thing should be sorted out. They should get a ticket like everyone else. It’s out of order.”

Léa Sicard, 20, who served the hungry officer pictured, said: “It was two of them. They must have been in the shop for about five minutes.

“They just came in and asked for the ice cream. One had Coconut and Stracciatella, the other went for a Hazelnut and Speculoos [spicy biscuit].”

Shop manager Eugenia Agnoletto, 26, said: “I suppose it’s taking advantage of the rules but they don’t come in here very often.”

A Westminster Council spokesman said: “The public would expect that should a legitimate, operational, need arise, Metropolitan Police officers are entitled to park on double yellow lines.

“However, the public should also expect – and officers know – that this entitlement shouldn’t be abused.”

The council will be following up the incident with police.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Metropolitan Police Service officers should always ensure police vehicles are parked in a considerate and appropriate manner.

“MPS officers should respect parking restrictions - including yellow lines - unless there are good operational reasons for not doing so.”