Election betting scandal: Met Police ends investigation

The Metropolitan Police has ended its investigation into the final election betting scandal.

The offences being investigated didn’t meet the “excessive bar” to show misconduct in public workplace, the power mentioned on Friday.

The Playing Fee continues to be investigating potential breaches of the Playing Act.

Police additionally mentioned an officer hooked up to the Royalty and Specialist Safety Command – arrested in June on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace – would haven’t any additional motion taken in opposition to him.

Politicians and law enforcement officials have been positioned underneath investigation earlier this 12 months after it was alleged that they had used insider data to position bets on the date of the final election.

The Playing Fee started investigating these suspected of dishonest underneath Part 42 of the Playing Act.

Nonetheless, the Met police took cost of inquiries right into a “small variety of circumstances” the place different offences, resembling misconduct in public workplace, have been alleged to have taken place.

Police mentioned on Friday the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had suggested the proof gathered throughout the course of the investigation didn’t meet the “excessive bar” to show misconduct in public workplace.

This implies the Met will not be concerned in investigating the betting scandal.

Nonetheless, the Playing Fee will proceed its inquiries into whether or not confidential data was “used to achieve an unfair benefit when betting on the date of the Normal Election”, mentioned the regulator’s Chief Government Andrew Rhodes.

The Playing Fee continues to assemble proof and interview witnesses as a part of its felony investigation, Mr Rhodes added.

“Whereas our involvement within the felony investigation now ceases, it’s vital that isn’t misinterpreted as an all clear for these whose circumstances have been checked out,” Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin mentioned.

“There are nonetheless Playing Act offences to think about and it’s applicable that they’re taken ahead by investigators from the Playing Fee who’ve explicit experience on this subject.

“Seven law enforcement officials who’re alleged to have positioned bets are nonetheless amongst these being investigated by the Playing Fee. In addition they stay underneath investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Skilled Requirements.”