A member of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s security team, a police constable, has been apprehended on grounds of presumed public office impropriety. This arrest is related to an ongoing investigation surrounding alleged bets concerning the schedule of the forthcoming UK general election, according to the London Metropolitan Police.
The police force confirmed on the 14th of June that they had been alerted by the Gambling Commission about investigations into betting activities by a constable attached to the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command of the Metropolitan Police. The suspicion was that these bets were concerning the general election timetable.
The incident was immediately passed over to the Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards, prompting a separate investigation. The implicated officer was relieved from active duty in the process.
His arrest happened on the 17th of June on suspicions of misconduct while in public office. He was detained and later released on bail while investigations continue. The episode has been escalated to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
While the ongoing investigation is led by the Gambling Commission into the supposed betting violations, a parallel probe is being conducted by the police. The UK Gambling Commission has also mentioned its ongoing investigation into potential offences linked to the election date.
Being a regulator of gambling activities to protect consumers and public interest, the Commission is currently focused on the possible infractions related to the election date. Due to the investigation being active, the Commission has not disclosed any further details.