19 June 2024 , 18:49
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Officer arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, says Metropolitan police
One of Rishi Sunak’s close protection officers has been arrested over alleged bets about the timing of the election.
The officer was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the Metropolitan police said in a statement
The news comes a week on from the Guardian’s revelation that Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, placed a £100 bet on a July election just three days before the prime minister named the date.
As a result of that incident, the Gambling Commission did a wider investigation and found information that led to the decision to investigate the officer.
The Metropolitan police said it was contacted last Friday by the Gambling Commission, which informed the force that it was investigating alleged bets related to the timing of an election by a constable from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.
“The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties,” the force said.
The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales
The Met added: “The Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and our investigation is running in parallel to that.”
The Guardian reported last week that the gambling Commission launched an inquiry after Williams, the prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary placed a bet with the bookmaker Ladbrokes on Sunday 19 May in his local constituency of Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr.
Williams said in a statement last week: “I put a flutter on the general election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully cooperate with these.”
“I don’t want it to be a distraction from the campaign, I should have thought how it looks.”
The Gambling Commission has asked bookmakers to trawl through all substantial bets placed on a July election after it was flagged that Williams had put the wager on the poll date just days before it was announced.
Members of the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command operate in close proximity to the prime minister and his team, often sharing the same vehicle.
Asked about the police officer, a spokesperson for the Gambling Commission said: “Currently the Commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election. This is an ongoing investigation, and the Commission cannot provide any further details at this time.”