Officer held in data leak inquiry

Scotland Yard's anti-corruption unit arrested the officer

A Metropolitan Police (Met) community support officer has been questioned on suspicion of leaking sensitive police information.

The civilian officer, in his 20s, was arrested by colleagues from Scotland Yard's anti-corruption unit.

The arrest followed a five-month inquiry by the force's Department of Professional Standards (DPS).

A tip-off that the east London officer illegally passed on secrets from police databases led to the inquiry.

Det Insp Tony Seery, of the DPS, said: "We have proactively conducted a thorough investigation which has led to today's arrest.

"We will take any allegation that an officer or member of staff has behaved inappropriately very seriously.

"As the work of the DPS shows the Met is committed to ensuring that the small minority who do not meet the standards expected are identified and that appropriate action is taken."

Investigators at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) supervised the investigation, which began in June.

The man has been bailed to return to an east London police station on 11 December.