One of Rishi Sunak’s closest aides has been arrested on suspicion of betting on the timing of elections.
The Metropolitan police said in a statement that the officer was arrested on Monday on suspicion of official misconduct.
The news comes a week after the Guardian revealed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s close aide, MP Craig Williams, had bet £100 on July’s election, just three days before the Prime Minister set the election date.
Following the incident, the Gambling Commission conducted a wider investigation and uncovered information which led to the decision to investigate the officers.
The Metropolitan police said they were contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday and informed that a constable from the Metropolitan police’s Royal and Specialist Policing Command was under investigation for allegedly making bets on the timing of the election.
“The matter was immediately reported to officers from the Metropolitan police’s Professional Standards Unit, an investigation was launched and the officer has been removed from duty,” police said.
The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is responsible for overseeing the complaints handling system against police in England and Wales.
The Metropolitan police added: “The Gambling Commission continues to lead investigations into suspected gambling crime and our investigation runs in parallel with this.”
The Guardian reported last week that the Gambling Commission had launched an investigation after Williams, the Prime Minister’s private secretary, placed bets with bookmaker Ladbrokes in his local constituency of Glyndwr, Montgomeryshire, on Sunday 19 May.
“A few weeks ago I made a bet on the general election which has resulted in several routine investigations with which I am committed to cooperating fully,” Williams said in a statement last week.
“I don’t want to get in the way of the election campaign. I should have cared about my appearance.”
The Gambling Commission has called on bookmakers to thoroughly examine all large stakes placed on July’s election after it emerged Mr Williams had placed a polling day bet just days before the election was announced.
Members of the Metropolitan police’s Royal and Specialist Protection Command operate in close proximity to the Prime Minister and his team, often sharing the same vehicles.
Asked about the officers, a Gambling Commission spokesman said: “The Commission is currently investigating possible unlawful activity in relation to election dates. This is an ongoing investigation and the Commission is unable to provide any further details at this time.”
More to come …
