Rishi Sunak protection officer arrested and 'removed from duties' over 'election date bets'

The Gambling Commission had informed the force that they were investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from its royalty and specialist protection command.

Officers confirmed the matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

In a statement, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that on Friday, June 14, 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, June 17 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."

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A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission has said: "The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public.

"Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election. This is an ongoing investigation, and the Commission cannot provide any further details at this time."

It comes after one of Sunak's closest parliamentary aides had placed a bet on the date of the General Election just days before the Prime Minister called it.

Craig Williams, who served as the Prime Minister's parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, has apologised but refused to say whether he placed the bet on the basis of insider information.

Williams, who was the Tory MP for Montgomery until the election was called, is alleged to have placed a £100 bet on a July polling day some three days before Mr Sunak named the date as July 4, at a Ladbrokes in his constituency.

He told the BBC: "I clearly made a huge error of judgment, that’s for sure, and I apologise."

The candidates standing for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:

• Jeremy Brignell-Thorp - Green Party
• Oliver Lewis - Reform UK
• Glyn Preston - Liberal Democrats
• Elwyn Vaughan - Plaid Cymru
• Craig Williams - Conservative and Unionist Party
• Steve Witherden - Labour Party