British police officer arrested for allegedly betting on election timetable | World News

A police officer working in a special protection unit has been arrested for allegedly betting on the timing of next month's British national elections, London police said Wednesday.

THE BBC reported that the officer worked as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's close protection team.

The Metropolitan Police said it was contacted on Friday by Britain's betting regulator, the Gambling Commission, about an investigation into “alleged bets carried out by a police officer from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, who were linked to the general election calendar. .

The Met's Professional Standards Directorate launched an investigation and the officer was suspended, it said.

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He was then arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and taken into custody before being released on bail.

Sunak's Conservative Party campaign team said the issue was a matter for the police.

Last week, a British lawmaker and close aide to Sunak apologized after betting on the election date, also triggering an investigation by the gambling regulator.

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The Guardian reported that Craig Williams, a candidate for a parliamentary seat in Wales, had bet 100 pounds that Sunak would call an election for July, just days before he did. Williams was set to gain 500 pounds, according to the report.

He said he made an error of judgment.

The July 4 vote date came as a surprise to most lawmakers and voters, who had expected elections in the fall.