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| Full story behind Mitchell 'pleb' row will surprise, says Met chief | Full story behind Mitchell 'pleb' row will surprise, says Met chief |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has said when the full story behind the Andrew Mitchell "pleb" row emerges people will be surprised at what happened. | The Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has said when the full story behind the Andrew Mitchell "pleb" row emerges people will be surprised at what happened. |
| Speaking on LBC radio, the commissioner said the arrest of a police officer in connection with the incident was because of suspicions he was a "whistleblower". But he said that was only part of the story behind the Met inquiry into the officer, who was arrested at the weekend on suspicion of misconduct in public office and leaking information. | Speaking on LBC radio, the commissioner said the arrest of a police officer in connection with the incident was because of suspicions he was a "whistleblower". But he said that was only part of the story behind the Met inquiry into the officer, who was arrested at the weekend on suspicion of misconduct in public office and leaking information. |
| "That is not the whole story," Hogan-Howe said on Tuesday. "I hope when people hear the full story they will understand why I've had some dilemma in talking about it today. We were quite surprised at what happened and I suspect they will be too." | "That is not the whole story," Hogan-Howe said on Tuesday. "I hope when people hear the full story they will understand why I've had some dilemma in talking about it today. We were quite surprised at what happened and I suspect they will be too." |
| Hogan-Howe told BBC London radio station: "It's an ongoing criminal investigation, and also it's now supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). I hope people understand that. And I also hope people understand that there is more to this than meets the eye. I'm afraid I'm constrained in explaining that. I hope that when people hear the full story they will support what we've done." | Hogan-Howe told BBC London radio station: "It's an ongoing criminal investigation, and also it's now supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). I hope people understand that. And I also hope people understand that there is more to this than meets the eye. I'm afraid I'm constrained in explaining that. I hope that when people hear the full story they will support what we've done." |
| The commissioner said he stood by the officers on duty in Downing Street when the altercation with Mitchell took place in September. The then Tory chief whip was forced to resign after he was alleged to have insulted police officers guarding Downing Street by using the term "plebs". | The commissioner said he stood by the officers on duty in Downing Street when the altercation with Mitchell took place in September. The then Tory chief whip was forced to resign after he was alleged to have insulted police officers guarding Downing Street by using the term "plebs". |
| Asked about Mitchell's repeated claims on Monday that he had not used the word pleb during the incident, Hogan-Howe said that since viewing the fresh information that had led to the officer's arrest, "there's nothing I have seen … that causes me to doubt that original account" of the officers who were on duty at the time. | Asked about Mitchell's repeated claims on Monday that he had not used the word pleb during the incident, Hogan-Howe said that since viewing the fresh information that had led to the officer's arrest, "there's nothing I have seen … that causes me to doubt that original account" of the officers who were on duty at the time. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is supervising part of the inquiry – into claims by the arrested officer that he witnessed the altercation with Mitchell. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission is supervising part of the inquiry – into claims by the arrested officer that he witnessed the altercation with Mitchell. |
| Hogan-Howe said the officer was not on duty at the time of the incident with Mitchell. | Hogan-Howe said the officer was not on duty at the time of the incident with Mitchell. |
| Confirming that the officer was being investigated for leaking information, Hogan-Howe said that was one part of the inquiry. | Confirming that the officer was being investigated for leaking information, Hogan-Howe said that was one part of the inquiry. |
| "The only thing I will say is that I don't think from what I've heard up to now that it's really affected the original account of the officers at the scene because this officer we've arrested isn't one of those involved originally. This is another officer who wasn't there at the time." | "The only thing I will say is that I don't think from what I've heard up to now that it's really affected the original account of the officers at the scene because this officer we've arrested isn't one of those involved originally. This is another officer who wasn't there at the time." |
| He said he hoped the investigation would be over before Christmas. | He said he hoped the investigation would be over before Christmas. |
| The officer was arrested on Saturday night as part of a wider Met inquiry into how "confidential" Met police information got into national newspapers. The constable, from the diplomatic protection group SO6, which guards embassies as well as members of the government, was bailed on Sunday and has been suspended from duty. | The officer was arrested on Saturday night as part of a wider Met inquiry into how "confidential" Met police information got into national newspapers. The constable, from the diplomatic protection group SO6, which guards embassies as well as members of the government, was bailed on Sunday and has been suspended from duty. |
| The IPCC said on Monday that its role in the investigation was to establish whether the officer's claim to have witnessed the clash between Mitchell and police in September was valid or not. The officer was also being investigated over whether an account of the incident, which he is alleged to have given to an MP, was accurate, it said. | The IPCC said on Monday that its role in the investigation was to establish whether the officer's claim to have witnessed the clash between Mitchell and police in September was valid or not. The officer was also being investigated over whether an account of the incident, which he is alleged to have given to an MP, was accurate, it said. |
| 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. |
| News of the arrest came as Mitchell repeated his claim that the contents of the alleged police logbook, recording the incident, were false. | News of the arrest came as Mitchell repeated his claim that the contents of the alleged police logbook, recording the incident, were false. |
| The exact words used by the politician on the night have always been disputed. 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 always been disputed. 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 earlier that its directorate of professional standards arrested the officer after the force received fresh information on Thursday regarding the alleged unauthorised disclosure of information. | The Met said earlier that its directorate of professional standards arrested the officer 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. But the Met refused to comment on where the fresh information came from. | Scotland Yard sources indicated on Monday there was no suggestion any payment had been involved in the alleged disclosure. But the Met refused to comment on where the fresh information came from. |
| The chairman of the Met police federation said it was of great regret that Scotland Yard had taken action against an officer over the row. John Tully said the federation would support members through any difficulties they faced. | The chairman of the Met police federation said it was of great regret that Scotland Yard had taken action against an officer over the row. 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. | "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 job. | 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 job. |
| 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, said it had seen a police report of the incident, prepared for senior officers, which indicated 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, said it had seen a police report of the incident, prepared for senior officers, which indicated Mitchell also swore repeatedly at officers. |
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