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Fourth arrest in 'plebgate' investigation Third police officer arrested over plebgate investigation
(about 3 hours later)
A police officer tasked with protecting government officials has been arrested over alleged leaks to the press about the "plebgate" affair. A police officer who was involved in the altercation with the chief whip in Downing street was arrested on Friday on suspicion of leaks to the media.
The 46-year-old, who works in the Diplomatic Protection Group at the Metropolitan police, was arrested at her workplace in central London on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. The 46-year-old police constable in the diplomatic protection squad wrote the original pocket book entry about the incident and the police log which contained allegations that Andrew Mitchell swore at her and her colleague and called them plebs.
She was arrested over alleged leaks to the media linked to the row which led the former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell to quit his cabinet post following claims he called officers "plebs". She was arrested from her workplace and taken to a central London police station for questioning. She is the third serving Met police officer to be arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into plebgate and into who leaked details of the altercation to the Sun and the Daily Telegraph.
The officer arrested was present at Downing Street during the incident in September, Scotland Yard confirmed. This was the fourth arrest in the investigation, which is known as Operation Alice. A fourth individual – a relative of one of the officers – has also been arrested and released on bail.
The female officer's arrest comes 24 hours after another diplomatic protection officer was arrested over the leak.
The Metropolitan police is also carrying out a misconduct investigation into four other officers from diplomatic protection – three of whom have been placed on restricted duties. But it is understood the investigation, led by assistant commissioner Pat Gallan, is focusing on a leak investigation and there has been no evidence found of a conspiracy to smear Mitchell — as he has alleged.
The latest arrests come as an external force, Greater Manchester, began a review of the Met police's investigation, which has so far cost more than £80,000.
Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, has called for the IPCC, which is currently supervising the inquiry, to take it over as an independent investigation.
The 46-year-old officer arrested on Thursday has been bailed to return on a date in March and has been suspended from duty.
The IPCC, which is supervising the investigation, has been informed of the latest arrest.