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| 'Plebgate' police officer investigated over witness claims | 'Plebgate' police officer investigated over witness claims |
| (8 days later) | |
| A police officer arrested in connection with the "Plebgate saga" that saw the Tory chief whip, Andrew Mitchell resign, is being investigated for allegedly claiming to have been a witness to the row in Downing Street, it emerged. | A police officer arrested in connection with the "Plebgate saga" that saw the Tory chief whip, Andrew Mitchell resign, is being investigated for allegedly claiming to have been a witness to the row in Downing Street, it emerged. |
| The officer from the Metropolitan police is being investigated over whether his claim to have witnessed the clash between Mitchell and police in September was wrong or valid, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. | The officer from the Metropolitan police is being investigated over whether his claim to have witnessed the clash between Mitchell and police in September was wrong or valid, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. |
| The officer is also being investigated over whether an account of the incident, he is alleged to have given an MP, was accurate, the IPCC added. | The officer is also being investigated over whether an account of the incident, he is alleged to have given an MP, was accurate, the IPCC added. |
| In an earlier statement the Met had said the officer had been arrested on Saturday over the leaking of information to the media about the clash which ended in Mitchell's resignation. | In an earlier statement the Met had said the officer had been arrested on Saturday over the leaking of information to the media about the clash which ended in Mitchell's resignation. |
| The IPCC statement reveals he faces more allegations than first thought. | The IPCC statement reveals he faces more allegations than first thought. |
| The officer referred to by the IPCC is the same one the Met announced they had arrested over the weekend in connection with leaking of police material to the media concerning the incident with Mitchell. | The officer referred to by the IPCC is the same one the Met announced they had arrested over the weekend in connection with leaking of police material to the media concerning the incident with Mitchell. |
| Mitchell, then the Tory chief whip, ended up resigning after he was alleged to have insulted police officers guarding Downing Street, by using the term "plebs". | Mitchell, then the Tory chief whip, ended up resigning after he was alleged to have insulted police officers guarding Downing Street, by using the term "plebs". |
| The IPCC said it would supervise an investigation to be conducted by the Met, into whether the alleged account of the incident made by the officer was accurate. | The IPCC said it would supervise an investigation to be conducted by the Met, into whether the alleged account of the incident made by the officer was accurate. |
| An IPCC spokesperson said the police watchdog was not involved in any inquiry into the alleged leaking of police information to the media, though this strand was linked. | An IPCC spokesperson said the police watchdog was not involved in any inquiry into the alleged leaking of police information to the media, though this strand was linked. |
| The arrested officer was not on duty at the time of Mitchell's row with police, the Met has said. He is from the diplomatic protection group, SO6. | The arrested officer was not on duty at the time of Mitchell's row with police, the Met has said. He is from the diplomatic protection group, SO6. |
| In a statement the IPCC explained part of the investigation, which it is supervising: "The circumstances surround a serving police officer's claim to have independently witnessed a widely reported incident outside Downing Street in central London on 19 September 2012. | In a statement the IPCC explained part of the investigation, which it is supervising: "The circumstances surround a serving police officer's claim to have independently witnessed a widely reported incident outside Downing Street in central London on 19 September 2012. |
| "The investigation is considering the validity of the officer's claim, which is understood to have been made to a member of parliament in a private capacity. | "The investigation is considering the validity of the officer's claim, which is understood to have been made to a member of parliament in a private capacity. |
| "The investigation is linked to inquiries by the MPS into how internal MPS information was obtained by national newspapers following the incident." | "The investigation is linked to inquiries by the MPS into how internal MPS information was obtained by national newspapers following the incident." |
| News of the arrest came as Mitchell said the contents of the alleged police logbook, recording the incident, were false. | News of the arrest came as Mitchell said the contents of the alleged police logbook, recording the incident, were false. |
| The constable from the specialist Metropolitan police unit, which guards embassies as well as members of the government, was bailed on Sunday after his arrest the day before, and has been suspended from duty. | The constable from the specialist Metropolitan police unit, which guards embassies as well as members of the government, was bailed on Sunday after his arrest the day before, and has been suspended from duty. |
| The exact words used by the politician on the night have been disputed ever since. Mitchell has said he "did not use the words attributed to me" and denied using the word pleb, although he has admitted to saying: "I thought you guys were supposed to fucking help us." It has been argued since then that he should have been arrested for abusing a police officer – a public order offence. | The exact words used by the politician on the night have been disputed ever since. Mitchell has said he "did not use the words attributed to me" and denied using the word pleb, although he has admitted to saying: "I thought you guys were supposed to fucking help us." It has been argued since then that he should have been arrested for abusing a police officer – a public order offence. |
| On Monday Mitchell told ITV News: "I'd just like to reiterate once again that it's the contents of the alleged police log which are false … they are false and I want to make that very clear." | On Monday Mitchell told ITV News: "I'd just like to reiterate once again that it's the contents of the alleged police log which are false … they are false and I want to make that very clear." |
| The Met said in a statement on Sunday night that its directorate of professional standards arrested the officer on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after the force received fresh information on Thursday regarding the alleged unauthorised disclosure of information. | The Met said in a statement on Sunday night that its directorate of professional standards arrested the officer on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after the force received fresh information on Thursday regarding the alleged unauthorised disclosure of information. |
| Scotland Yard sources indicated on Monday there was no suggestion any payment had been involved in the alleged disclosure of information. But the Met refused to comment on where the fresh information that led to the officer's arrest on Saturday night had come from. | Scotland Yard sources indicated on Monday there was no suggestion any payment had been involved in the alleged disclosure of information. But the Met refused to comment on where the fresh information that led to the officer's arrest on Saturday night had come from. |
| The Police Federation has expressed "great regret" after Scotland Yard arrested the officer from the diplomatic protection group, SO6, over the alleged leaking of information to the press about an incident at Downing Street in which Andrew Mitchell, the then chief whip, is said to have called officers "plebs". | The Police Federation has expressed "great regret" after Scotland Yard arrested the officer from the diplomatic protection group, SO6, over the alleged leaking of information to the press about an incident at Downing Street in which Andrew Mitchell, the then chief whip, is said to have called officers "plebs". |
| The chairman of the Met Police Federation said it was of great regret that Scotland Yard had taken action against an officer over "plebgate". John Tully said the federation would support members through any difficulties they faced. "Clearly it is of great regret that the MPS has found it necessary to take this action – I trust justice will ultimately prevail," he said. | The chairman of the Met Police Federation said it was of great regret that Scotland Yard had taken action against an officer over "plebgate". John Tully said the federation would support members through any difficulties they faced. "Clearly it is of great regret that the MPS has found it necessary to take this action – I trust justice will ultimately prevail," he said. |
| The row in September developed after police at Downing Street refused to open the main gates to allow Mitchell to take his bicycle through, instead forcing him to use the side gate. Allegations of the words used in the exchange that followed led to the Tory MP resigning as chief whip in October after an unsuccessful month-long fight to fend off the claims and save his career. | The row in September developed after police at Downing Street refused to open the main gates to allow Mitchell to take his bicycle through, instead forcing him to use the side gate. Allegations of the words used in the exchange that followed led to the Tory MP resigning as chief whip in October after an unsuccessful month-long fight to fend off the claims and save his career. |
| Weeks before Mitchell's resignation the Met launched an investigation into how the Sun obtained an internal report suggesting Mitchell did call the officers plebs. The tabloid, which broke the original story about the incident, said it had seen a police report of the incident, prepared for senior officers, which indicated that Mitchell also swore repeatedly at officers. | Weeks before Mitchell's resignation the Met launched an investigation into how the Sun obtained an internal report suggesting Mitchell did call the officers plebs. The tabloid, which broke the original story about the incident, said it had seen a police report of the incident, prepared for senior officers, which indicated that Mitchell also swore repeatedly at officers. |
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