A bodyguard of Rishi Sunak has been arrested in an investigation over alleged election date bets, it has been revealed.
An officer working as part of the Prime Minister’s close protection crew was suspended and later arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
The Met was contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday, who said they were investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from its royalty and specialist protection command, the BBC reported.
The Met said the matter was ‘immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties’, according to the BBC.
On Monday the officer was then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The individual was taken into custody and later bailed, with further enquiries pending.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that on Friday, 14 June, the Met were contacted by the Gambling Commission who informed us that they were investigating alleged bets made by a Police Constable from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, which were related to the timing of the General Election.
‘The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties.
‘The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries. The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
‘The Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and our investigation is running in parallel to that.’