17/12/2012

Police Officer Arrested Over 'Pleb' Leak

A Police officer has been arrested on suspicion of leaking information about ex-Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell's tirade against police on Downing Street.

He was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was bailed on Sunday.

He is currently suspended from his post.

In A statement the Metropolitan Police said: "The arrest is linked to previous inquiries by the MPS as to how internal information was obtained by national newspapers following an incident at Downing Street in September.

"The officer arrested was not on duty at the time of the incident in Downing Street."

Mr Mitchell resigned from his post as Conservative Chief Whip in October, and in a letter to PM David Cameron he insisted he had not referred to an officer as either a "moron" or a "pleb".

Mr Mitchell later apologised for not showing enough respect to the police but denied "using the words attributed to me".

The arrest will be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission today.

(CD)

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