A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that on Friday, June 14, the Met were contacted by the Gambling Commission who informed us that they were investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, which were related to the timing of the General Election.
‘The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties.
‘The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
‘He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries. The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
‘The Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and our investigation is running in parallel to that.’
The Gambling Commission has said it is investigating ‘the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election’.
A spokesperson said: ‘The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public.
‘Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.
‘This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time.’
Rishi Sunak previously said it was ‘very disappointing’ that one of his closest aides and Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr in Wales, Craig Williams, had allegedly placed a bet on the date of the General Election.
Mr Williams is alleged to have placed a £100 bet on a July polling day some three days before Mr Sunak named the date as July 4, at a Ladbrokes in his constituency.
He previously said he had clearly made a ‘huge error of judgment’ but refused to say whether he placed a bet on the basis of insider information.