Last week a Met police officer who is a member of the Prime Minister’s close protection team was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegedly putting a bet on the date of the general election.
This serving police officer is “under criminal investigation” and is on restricted duties as a result.
A further five more Met police are now being investigated in connection with bets being placed on the 4 July general election prior to it being publicly announced.
The investigation is on the timing of the bets being placed, this was first revealed by The Telegraph on Monday, to which Scotland Yard has confirmed.
The five police officers are not part of Rishi Sunak’s close protection team however one is a member of the royalty and specialist protection command.
A Met spokesman said, “We previously confirmed the arrest of a Met officer on Monday June 17 for misconduct in public office in relation to bets placed on the timing of the general election.
“The officer – a police constable from the royalty and specialist protection command – is on restricted duties.
“It is still the case that only one officer is under criminal investigation.
“We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.
“The Gambling Commission continues to investigate these matters. The officers have not been arrested but the Met’s directorate of professional standards has been informed.
“The officers are based on the royalty and specialist command, the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command and the central west basic command unit. None of them work in a close protection role.
“Decisions on whether they will be subject to any restrictions will be taken in due course.”
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