ROYAL Bank of Scotland has been chosen to provide advice to police on financial crime, just days after its own bill to settle regulatory investigations into past misconduct topped £1 billion.

RBS, which is 80% owned by the taxpayer, is to provide help to City of London Police.

Rescued during the financial crisis with a £46b taxpayer bailout that remains outstanding, it last week set aside £400m to settle claims of foreign exchange market rigging.

Labour MP John Mann of the Treasury Select Committee, said: "The idea that they could be giving advice is nonsense."