Met Police Open Investigation Into General Election Betting Scandal

New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, in London on Feb. 9, 2022. (James Manning/PA)

The Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into potential instances of misconduct in public office amid the growing Westminster general election gambling scandal.

Since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he was going to the polls last month, several politicians, party staffers, and police officers have all been accused of placing bets relating to the vote ranging from its timing, to the outcome of individual races.

Though the main investigation into the affair is being conducted by the Gambling Commission, the UK’s betting regulator, Scotland Yard has confirmed it will be taking a leading role “in a small number of cases to assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office.”

Twin-Pronged Investigation

In a statement on Thursday, the Met said the investigation would be split into two categories.

“Bets that are suspected of being in breach of Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Cheating) only. These will be investigated by the Gambling Commission and are likely to make up the majority of cases,” it said.

The statement added that “bets that are suspected of being in breach of Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, but with specific features that could mean additional offences apply, for example misconduct in public office,” would be assessed by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command to determine what further investigation is required.

The Crown Prosecution Service defines misconduct in public office as “a common law offence” which “concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities.”

It carries a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Westminster Wagers Probed

The Gambling Commission itself is continuing its review to determine whether any bets placed on the timing of the election will fall within the purview of either probe.

So far least five Conservatives are being investigated by the Gambling Commission as part of its inquiry into wagers on the timing of the July 4 poll.

On Tuesday Mr. Sunak withdrew support for parliamentary aide Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, two of the candidates facing an investigation by the commission.

Ms. Saunders’s husband, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning Tony Lee, has taken a leave of absence, as has chief data officer Nick Mason, while Conservative member of the Welsh Senedd Russell George is also facing a probe by the gambling watchdog.

On Wednesday, Scotland Secretary Alister Jack also admitted placing three bets on the timing of the election, however he is not currently being investigated by the commission.

Labour was also embroiled in the expanding scandal, suspending candidate Kevin Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting on himself to lose his contest in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

7 Police Officers Investigated

Regarding police officers involved in the investigation, Scotland Yard has compared the names of those who have placed bets on the date of the election against a list of its officers.

So far, seven officers have been identified, with one, a PC attached to the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, arrested earlier this month on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

That officer has been bailed and is subject to restricted duties, while the other six remain under investigation by the Gambling Commission and keeping the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards informed.

The officer leading the police investigation, Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, said in a statement: “We have agreed a joint approach with the Gambling Commission, who are the appropriate authority to investigate the majority of these allegations.

“There will, however, be a small number of cases where a broader criminal investigation by the police is required.”

Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, added, “Our enforcement team has made rapid progress so far and will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to draw this case to a just conclusion.”