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Met investigates alleged criminal behaviour in MPs' expenses claims | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Metropolitan police are investigating two cases of alleged criminal behaviour in the claiming of publicly funded expenses by MPs. | The Metropolitan police are investigating two cases of alleged criminal behaviour in the claiming of publicly funded expenses by MPs. |
Peter Davis, the compliance officer of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), announced in his annual report that he had referred three cases to Scotland Yard. | Peter Davis, the compliance officer of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), announced in his annual report that he had referred three cases to Scotland Yard. |
In one of the cases an aide to an MP received a caution in April “for fraud by false representation”. The police have concluded inquiries in one case and are continuing investigations in the other two cases. | In one of the cases an aide to an MP received a caution in April “for fraud by false representation”. The police have concluded inquiries in one case and are continuing investigations in the other two cases. |
A Met spokesman told the Press Association: “Of the three referrals made to us by Ipsa in March 2015, two are being investigated. An assessment of the third referral resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an employee of an MP, receiving a caution in April for fraud by false representation.” | A Met spokesman told the Press Association: “Of the three referrals made to us by Ipsa in March 2015, two are being investigated. An assessment of the third referral resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an employee of an MP, receiving a caution in April for fraud by false representation.” |
Related: MPs' expenses: Ipsa 'names and shames' those who ignored repayment requests | Related: MPs' expenses: Ipsa 'names and shames' those who ignored repayment requests |
In his annual report Davis said he had been obliged to refer cases to the police for the first time. Davis, who made the referrals in March, wrote: “During the course of the reporting period I have felt it necessary for the first time during my term of office to refer requests for investigation received from Ipsa to the police.” | In his annual report Davis said he had been obliged to refer cases to the police for the first time. Davis, who made the referrals in March, wrote: “During the course of the reporting period I have felt it necessary for the first time during my term of office to refer requests for investigation received from Ipsa to the police.” |
The compliance officer’s joint working agreement with the Met sets out the grounds on which a referral is made to the police. It states: “Where, in the exercise of their duties, either Ipsa or the compliance officer is given a reason to suspect that a criminal offence may have been committed by an MP or a member of an MP’s staff, they shall seek advice from the commissioner and notify the Metropolitan police of their suspicions, and hand over any relevant documentation upon request.” | The compliance officer’s joint working agreement with the Met sets out the grounds on which a referral is made to the police. It states: “Where, in the exercise of their duties, either Ipsa or the compliance officer is given a reason to suspect that a criminal offence may have been committed by an MP or a member of an MP’s staff, they shall seek advice from the commissioner and notify the Metropolitan police of their suspicions, and hand over any relevant documentation upon request.” |
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