British police ends probe into UK election betting scandal
British police have confirmed the conclusion of their investigation into a string of suspicious bets around the date of the United Kingdom general election.
Ahead of the vote on July 4, many headlines were created by claims that Conservative Party political figures and associates had utilized inside information to stake a bet on when the nation would elect its next government.
At the time, the date should only have been known by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his closest aides.
The Metropolitan Police, the force with jurisdiction over the entirety of Greater London, has stated the offenses under investigation did not meet the “high bar” to prove misconduct in office. A police officer belonging to the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command (RaSp) – which looks after the security of the royal family and government dignitaries – was arrested in June, but no further action will be taken in his case.
However, the Gambling Commission is still investigating the timeline of events to rule on potential breaches of the Gambling Act.
“We have interviewed several suspects under caution”Met Police Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin said in a statement, “While our involvement in the criminal investigation now ceases, it’s important that is not misinterpreted as an all-clear for those whose cases were looked at.”
“There are still Gambling Act offenses to consider, and it is appropriate that they are taken forward by investigators from the Gambling Commission who have particular expertise in this field.”
The police body stated that no further action would be pursued against the RaSP officer “in relation to that specific offense,” but it confirmed a probe is ongoing against seven officers who are alleged to have placed bets on the election date. Separate investigations are being conducted by the Gambling Commission, as well as the Met’s professional standards authority.
Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission said the watchdog’s investigation “continues to progress and we have interviewed several suspects under caution.”
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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