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Five more police officers allegedly bet on general election timing – Met Police | Political news

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

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The allegations come after the arrest of Rishi Sunak's close protection officer last week, while two Tory candidates and two Tory officials are under investigation.

By Alix Culbertson, political journalist @alixculbertson

Tuesday June 25, 2024 3:51 p.m., United Kingdom

Five other officers are believed to have placed bets on the timing of the general election, the Met Police said.

The force said the Gambling Commission passed it information about the officers after Rishi Sunak's close protection officer arrested last week over alleged betting on the July election.

The Conservative election campaign has been plunged into crisis as two Tory candidates, two officials and the officer are investigated by the gambling watchdog for placing bets on the election schedule.

General Election Live Updates

Earlier Tuesday, the The Conservative Party withdrew its support for the two candidates under investigation – Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.

They will still appear on the ballot as Conservative candidates because it is too late to change them before next Thursday's vote, but they will have no support for the rest of the campaign from the party and will not be able to call themselves conservative.

Their continued tenure as Conservative after the election obviously depends on the outcome of the Gambling Commission's investigation.

The move comes after Mr Sunak faced almost two weeks of pressure to suspend them, but he previously said he was waiting to see the results of the commission's investigation.

He has now launched a Conservative Party investigation into the allegations.

What is misconduct in public office?

MiPo, as it is called, concerns serious abuse or intentional neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public function held.

There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities, says the Crown Prosecution Service.

He carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

People holding public office include judges, police officers, immigration officers, elected officials, civil servants, army officers and bishops of the Church of England.

They must deliberately neglect their duty and/or themselves to such an extent that they abuse the public trust in the office holder without excuse or reasonable justification.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “We previously confirmed the arrest of a Met officer on Monday June 17 for misconduct in the exercise of a public duty in relation to bets placed on the general election schedule.

“The officer – a Royal and Specialist Protection Command police officer – has restricted duties.

“There remains only one police officer under criminal investigation.

“We have, however, received information from the Gambling Commission that five other agents may have placed bets on the election schedule.

“The officers are based in the Royal and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the Central West Base Command Unit. None of them work in a close protection role.

“Decisions on whether they will be subject to restrictions will be made in due course.”

Conservatives launch own investigation into betting scandal

Royalties and Specialist Protection Unit (RaSP) officers provide personal protection to visiting Prime Ministers, Ministers, Royals, Ambassadors and Heads of State, as well as venue guarding individuals.

Members of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command protect the Houses of Parliament and officers from the Central West Base Command Unit cover the London boroughs of Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, as well as Kensington and Chelsea.