Scandal at 10 Downing: Sunak’s Protection Officer and Aide Under Investigation for Election Betting

A police officer tasked with safeguarding Rishi Sunak has been detained and subsequently suspended due to accusations of gambling on the timing of the election. This incident follows revelations that Craig Williams, a key parliamentary assistant to Mr. Sunak, is under scrutiny for placing bets on an election occurring in July.

Journalist Tom Gillespie (@TomGillespie1)

Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 8:

Sky News reports that a bodyguard for Rishi Sunak has been taken into custody and placed on suspension following accusations that he gambled on when the general election would occur.

The officer belongs to the Metropolitan Police's Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) Command, a unit responsible for the personal security of VIP ministers and the Royal Family.

Sky News has learned that multiple wagers were made, including at least one that amounted to a sum in the hundreds.

The apprehension of the police officer follows recent revelations that Craig Williams, a key aide to Mr. Sunak in Parliament, is under scrutiny for placing a wager on the likelihood of an election in July.

On Friday, June 14, the Gambling Commission notified the Metropolitan Police that they were conducting an investigation into the actions of a police officer.

Stay updated on political news: Live coverage continues

The Metropolitan Police stated that the issue was promptly sent to the members of the force's directorate of professional standards for review, and they initiated an investigation. Additionally, the officer in question was suspended from field duties.

In a statement from the Metropolitan Police, it was announced: "Following the incident, the officer was arrested on Monday, June 17, on charges of suspected misconduct in public office. He has been taken into custody and released on bail while investigations continue."

For an optimal video experience, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser.

The force added, "The Gambling Commission remains at the forefront of the probe into the supposed betting violations, while our own investigation proceeds concurrently."

The Gambling Commission has announced that it is "looking into potential violations related to the election date."

The statement also noted: "As this is an active investigation, the commission is not able to release more information currently."

Stay informed about the most recent developments in the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

The issue has also been forwarded to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for review.

A spokesperson for the IOPC stated: "A compulsory referral has been sent to us by the Metropolitan Police Service, and we will determine the extent of IOPC's engagement in this matter in due time."

Stay updated with more political coverageSNP demands abolition of two-child welfare limitElection pledges from various partiesLabour representative reportedly shared pro-Russian content

Investigation underway for Prime Minister's

Mr. Sunak expressed his disappointment following revelations last week that Mr. Williams had placed a bet on a July election.

Mr. Williams, serving as the Prime Minister's parliamentary private secretary, is under scrutiny for placing a bet on the general election shortly before the announcement of its July 4 date.

Stay ahead with the latest Breaking News

Download the Sky News application at no cost

A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a junior member of Parliament who serves as the prime minister's liaison, monitoring and reporting on the mood and concerns within the House of Commons

He has yet to verify if he had any privileged information at the time he made the wager.

He indicated in a statement that his bet on the election led to some standard investigations, to which he would fully comply.

He added, "I don't want it to divert attention from the campaign. I should have considered the appearance of it."

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Sky Network Channels

Additional Sky Websites