Thursday, 7 March 2013

Ex-City of London police officer arrested over alleged leak to journalists - Observer

A former senior City of London police officer has been arrested on suspicion of passing information to journalists without payment, the police watchdog has said.

The former officer, a 52-year-old man, was held at his home in south-west London on Tuesday.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which carried out the arrest, said there was no indication that the former officer received any money in exchange for the alleged leak.

He is one of four former or serving officers arrested over the alleged passing of information to the media, where no money was involved.

The IPCC said Tuesday's arrest was prompted by evidence gathered during the investigation into another City of London officer, who was held and released on bail in June last year.

The watchdog said the arrest also followed further evidence obtained by Scotland Yard's Operation Elveden, the investigation into alleged payments from journalists to police and other public officials.

The IPCC added in a statement: "He was arrested at his home in south-west London and is being questioned by IPCC investigators at a police station nearby. Investigators have conducted a search of his home and have seized a number of items."

The name and rank of the man, who the IPCC described as a "former senior City of London police officer", was not disclosed.

His arrest comes shortly after that of Chief Superintendent Andy Rowell, the borough commander in Ealing, west London, who was arrested by the Metropolitan police in February over the suspected release of confidential information without alleged payment.

The IPCC has launched two independent investigations into alleged misconduct by police officers, linked to Operation Elveden. On Tuesday, the watchdog said it had received 18 individual referrals from the Metropolitan police and other forces in relation to alleged misconduct by officers.

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