A female police officer becomes the fourth person arrested over alleged leaks to the media linked to the Andrew Mitchell “plebgate” affair.
The 46-year-old, who works in the Diplomatic Protection Group at the Metropolitan Police Service, was arrested at her workplace in central London on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.
She was arrested over alleged leaks to the media linked to the row which led former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell to quit his cabinet post following claims he called officers “plebs” – a claim he always denied.
The officer arrested was present at Downing Street during the incident in September, Scotland Yard confirmed.
This was the fourth arrest in the investigation, which is known as Operation Alice.
Speaking in Liberia, the prime minister called again for a “thorough” investigation, saying: “It is very important that this investigation is thoroughly carried out and proper answers are delivered.”
On Thursday, a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and the unauthorised disclosure of information to the media, and is bailed until March.
On 15 December, a 52-year-old police constable from the same police group was arrested on “suspicion of misconduct in public office”.
He was rebailed to return in February 2013 and is suspended from duty.
A 23-year-old man, who is not a member of the police force, was arrested on 19 December suspected of “intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence”, relating to misconduct in a public office.