LONDON, June 20 — A police constable working as part of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s protection team has been arrested over alleged bets made related to the timing of the UK’s general election, reported German news agency (dpa).
The Metropolitan Police said the officer was taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and has since been bailed pending further inquiries.
In a statement, the force said it was informed by the Gambling Commission that a police constable from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was being investigated over the alleged bets.
Police said the matter was immediately referred to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the officer was also removed from operational duties.
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The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said they will “make a decision on the level of IOPC involvement in due course”.
The Gambling Commission is leading the investigation into the alleged betting offences, which is running parallel to the Met’s probe.
In a statement, the Gambling Commission said: “Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.”
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“This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time.”
According to the Crown Prosecution Service’s website, misconduct in a public office “concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities”.
Sunak previously said it was “very disappointing” that one of his closest aides and the current Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr in Wales, Craig Williams, had allegedly placed a bet on the date of the general election.
Williams, who was the Tory Member of Parliament for Montgomery until the election was called, is alleged to have placed a £100 (RM599) bet on a July polling day some three days before Sunak named the date as July 4, at a Ladbrokes betting shop in his constituency.
He previously said he had clearly made a “huge error of judgment” but refused to say whether he placed a bet on the basis of insider information. — Bernama
