The Metropolitan Police has been accused of putting itself up for hire after Sir Richard Branson's company Virgin Media paid police overtime costs as part of a fraud investigation.

The force is also alleged to have signed a contract with Virgin which would see it receiving a share of any compensation recovered from a case which involved the sale of illegal set-top boxes.

Although the police have done nothing wrong, for some it raises questions about future policy when it comes to the police working in partnership with external organisations.

Peter Neyroud, former head of the National Police Improvement Agency and a former chief constable, gives his thoughts on the questions it raises.

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